Asian Elephants – Elephas maximus

Elephas maximus indicus - Indian

Elephas maximus sumatranus - Sumatran

Elephas maximus maximus - Sri Lankan

Population of Domesticated Indian Elephants

1985 - 2900-3110

1990 - 2260-2760

2000 - 3400-3600

YEAR 1993 1997 2002

KERALA 3500 3600 385

NORTH EAST

11027 9482 9243

EAST 2314 2444 2649

NORTH 875 1200 1667

SOUTH 11353 12716 12814

ANDAMANS 35 35 40

TOTAL 25604 25877 26413

Elephant population in wildElephant population in wild

• Ownership of elephants in India

• Individuals - 75%

• Temples - 6%

• Zoo - 2%

• Circus - 3%

• Forest Dept - 14%

Usage /Activity of ElephantsLogging - 43%Ceremonies - 12%Transportation - 10%Tourism - 6 %Entertainment - 5%Kunki - 4 %Agriculture - 2%Begging - 7%No work - 11%

Project Elephant

centrally sponsored scheme, launched in Feb 1992

to provide financial and technical support to States

for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors.

to address the issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

Project Outlay

23 Crores – 8th plan

60 Crores - 10 th plan

Elephant Reserves - 25 Nos

Area - 58,000 sq km

Implemented in 13 StatesImplemented in 13 States

Andhra Pradesh , Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Jharkhand , Karnataka , Kerala ,

Meghalaya , Nagaland , Orissa , Tamil Nadu ,

Uttranchal , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Assistance to Kerala in Lakhs of Rupees

1991-92 - 120.00

1992-93 - 14.02

1993-94 - 8.75

1994-95 - 63.58

1995-96 - 42.25

1996-97 - 71.96

1997-98 - 76.87

1999-2000 - 143.40

Assistance to Kerala in Lakhs of Rupees

2000-01 - 63.55 2001-02 - 66.05 2002-03 - 82.00 2003-04 - 111.882004-05 - 188.282005-06 - 167.40 2006-07 - 170.00

Enumeration of Elephants: First time in Feb-May 2005.

Two sampling methods, Block Sampling; and Line Transact-Dung Count (with Retrospective Method of Calculating Dung

Decay Rate).

Again in 2007 repeated in 2010.

Eastern Ghats

Area 2005 2002

Karnataka

6724 4452 5838

Kerala 1200 636 961

Tamilnadu 4663 2862 1938

Andhra 766 12 74

Total 13335 7962 8811

Western Ghats

Area 2005 2002

Kerala 3728 1547 756

Tamilnadu 1457 179 680

Total 5185 1726 1430

South Nilgiris

Area 2005 2002

Kerala 1419 281 886

Tamil Nadu 566 329 132

Total 1985 610 1018

PeriyarKerala 3742 1100 1268

Tamil Nadu 1249 638 223

Total 4991 1738 1491

Sex Ratio of Indian Elephants in Wild

1 : 24

Wild elephant population trend

1562718975

20862

25604 25877 26413

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

years

num

ber

1980 1985 1989 1993 1997 2002

A herd in wild spotted A herd in wild spotted

The survey held in 2005The survey held in 2005

• number of wild elephants in Kerala as 5,135.

• Anamudi elephant reserve - 2,299

• Periyar Reserve - 1,620

• 17 per cent was estimated to be tuskers.