In News:

• Shelved Census Report: The Environment Ministry has delayed the release of the elephant census report, “Status of Elephant in India 2022-23,” due to a lag in the Northeast census, with publication on hold until at least June 2025.
• Population Decline: Preliminary data from the report indicates significant drops in elephant populations across several regions:
  • Southern West Bengal: 84% decline
  • Jharkhand: 64% decline
  • Odisha: 54% decline
  • Kerala: 51% decline
• Developmental Threats: The report cites “mushrooming developmental projects,” including unregulated mining and infrastructure development, as major threats to elephant populations.
• Methodological Concerns: The Environment Ministry noted that refined counting methods could explain some discrepancies, suggesting new data may not be directly comparable to previous censuses conducted every five years since the 1990s.
• Old Counting Methods:
  • Pre-2002: Elephants were counted using the “total direct count” method, which involved simple head counts but lacked scientific rigor for larger populations.
  • 2002: Introduction of the “indirect dung count” method, where dung samples were used to estimate density based on decay rates.
  • Sample Block Counts: Modified methods involved surveying limited areas (5 sq km) to improve detection accuracy.
• Elephants vs. Tigers: In 2021, a harmonized approach for estimating elephant and tiger populations was proposed, utilizing a similar block and co-variate methodology for both species.
• Genetic Mark-Recapture: The 2022-23 elephant census employed a genetic mark-recapture model using dung samples to identify individual elephants.
• Impact of Delay: Experts argue that withholding the available data hinders conservation efforts and governance. Delays could exacerbate the plight of elephant populations, particularly in regions facing specific threats, such as mining in Odisha.

Key Findings of the Unreleased Report:

• Overall Decline: The overall elephant population has decreased by 20% since 2017, with some areas reporting reductions of up to 41%.
• Regional Impact:
  • Southern West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha have seen losses of nearly 1,700 elephants.
  • The Western Ghats region indicates an 18% decline.
• Northeast Region: The census for this area relies on extrapolated data from 2017, with approximately one-third of India's elephants located there.
• Contributing Factors: Habitat fragmentation, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts due to developmental activities are major threats.
• Conservation Recommendations: Strategies to strengthen elephant corridors, restore habitats, and enhance community involvement in conservation are vital.
• Challenges in the Northeast: Urban development, mining, and agriculture significantly threaten elephant movement and survival, underscoring the need for targeted conservation strategies.
• Conservation Status of Elephants in India:
  • Leading States: Karnataka, Assam, and Kerala have the highest elephant populations.
  • Conservation Status: Elephants are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and are protected under multiple international conventions.
• Threats to Elephants:
  • Habitat Loss: Rapid human population growth is diminishing elephant habitats.
  • Fragmentation: Habitat disruption from construction and development projects is prevalent.
  • Unlawful Killing: Human-elephant conflict often leads to retaliatory killings.
  • Poaching: Targeting of male elephants for tusks continues to threaten genetic diversity.
• Conservation Measures:
  • Financial support under various government schemes for habitat conservation and human-elephant conflict resolution.
  • Establishment of 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 states.
  • Collaborative efforts with railways and power departments to mitigate risks.
  • Regular elephant census every five years by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for monitoring populations.