Poor Growth of Elephant population in North East India

As per the 2007-2008 elephant census, there is a positive growth of the wild elephant population in India i.e. 26413 in 2002 and 27694 in 2007 growing at the rate of 4.85%, but the sad story is that population of wild elephant in North Eastern India has hardly shown any growth.

Wild Population of elephant in North Eastern part was estimated to be 9243 in 2002 while latest estimation in 2007 is 9355, which shows a growth of 1.21%, a sorrow figure.

Three states responsible for such degradation are Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur of which Manipur has no wild elephant is left in the state now and Mizoram with just 12 elephants. Meghalaya, on the other hand is de-growing with a rate of 3.05% (1868 in 2002 and 1811 in 2007). Khasi Elephant Reserve in Meghalaya has been accorded by Ministry of Environment & Forests. The State Government is yet to notify.

Assam on the other hand has shown a minor growth in terms of captive as well as wild population but there are other factors which are posing alarming threats to the population.

One of the threats is man-animal conflict which is rising with the increase of elephant population. Other region for such conflict is encroachment of elephant corridors by human.

Killing of elephant in Assam is becoming common news, whether it is done deliberately or not. On 25^th of October 2009, a male elephant was poisoned by the villagers in Goalpara District. As many as 40 elephants were poisoned to death allegedly by the villagers in 2001. On 28^th February 2010, two female elephants were mowed down by goods train. 31 elephants are killed by train since 1998.

“The status of elephant can be the best indicator of the status of the forests.”

Project Tiger

Dear friends! Lets save the elephants before it is too late.

Curtsey: Project Tiger for population data.