Dehradun: The whole world celebrates 12 August as ‘World Elephant Day’ to protect elephants and make people aware about these mammoths. According to the current elephant census, a total of 2026 elephants have been registered in the Uttarakhand state. Interestingly, the jumbo count is high in Uttarakhand despite rising deaths due to train accidents and many other reasons.
Elephant population in Uttarakhand has increased
Sameer Sinha, Chief Wildlife Warden of the Uttarakhand Forest Department, stated, “While the number of elephants in the country has generally declined, their population in Uttarakhand has increased.” However, since 2001, 184 elephants have died from natural causes, 96 from conflicts, and 78 from various accidents. Additionally, nine elephants were killed by poachers, and 23 were struck by trains, according to Sinha.
More than 1200 elephants in Corbett National Park
World Elephant Day has been celebrated every year since 2012 for the conservation and promotion of elephants. Corbett National Park is working well in this campaign. As a result, the number of elephants is continuously increasing in Corbett National Park. There were 979 elephants in Corbett National Park in 2010. This number increased to 1,035 in 2015. In the 2020 census, the number of elephants in Corbett Park increased to more than 1,220.
Incidents of human-wildlife conflict have increased
Elephant habitats in Uttarakhand are indeed facing significant challenges. Human activities such as settlements, encroachments, infrastructure development (like roads and railway tracks), mining, and biotic pressures (such as cattle grazing and firewood extraction) are severely impacting the movement and well-being of elephants. Additionally, the increasing elephant population in the state has led to more frequent human-elephant conflicts. Between the years 2020-2023, 27 people died and 36 were injured in elephant attacks in Uttarakhand.
Elephant habitat also getting affected
Uttarakhand has several critical elephant corridors that are essential for the safe movement and habitat connectivity of its elephant population. Elephants used to travel from the forests of Garhwal to the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Terai Central Forest Division, Terai Eastern Forest Division and reach Nepal. In the last years, their habitats have also been affected due to reasons like forest land transfer and encroachment. According to experts, due to cultivation of sugarcane and paddy on the edge of the forest, elephants are reaching populated areas to eat crops. The attempts to shoo away the elephants result in aggressive behaviour of mammoths. DFO of Terai Central Forest Division UC Tiwari said, “Elephants have a good memory so they reach those areas also where they used to move once.”
Elephants are also dying due to train collision and electrocution
Elephant deaths on railway tracks in Uttarakhand have been a significant concern. Over the past 22 years, 23 elephants have died after being hit by trains. These incidents often occur when elephants cross railway tracks that intersect their natural habitats. For instance, a recent incident involved an elephant being hit by a train near Sitapur railway crossing on the Haridwar-Laksar railway track. According to Sameer Sinha, “Efforts are being made to mitigate these accidents, such as installing warning systems and creating underpasses for wildlife.”
World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, the elephant is… pic.twitter.com/yAW5riOrT1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 12, 2024
PM Modi told the connection with culture and history
While posting on his social media account ‘X’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to do everything possible to provide elephants with a favorable habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, elephants are also connected to our culture and history. And it is a matter of joy that their number has increased in the last few years.”
