Backgrounder:
Project Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched in
February 1992 to provide financial and technical support to major elephant
bearing States in the country for protection of elephants, their habitats
and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of human-elephant
conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants. The Project is being
implemented in 13 States / UTs, viz. Andhra pradesh , Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Jharkhand , Karnataka , Kerala , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Orissa ,
Tamil Nadu , Uttranchal , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Based on the proposals
received in the form of Annual Plan of Operations, Government of India
provides financial and technical assistance to State/UT Governments for
wildlife protection under the various Centrally Sponsored Schemes –
Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries, Project Tiger and
Project Elephant. These funds are released after scrutiny of the
proposals and also subject to the availability of funds and fulfillment of
procedural requirements. The State-wise details of funds which have been
released under this project are given below:
|
(Rs in Lakhs) |
|
S.No. |
State |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07* |
|
1 |
Andhra Pradesh |
50.00 |
55.00 |
48.00 |
60.00 |
40.00 |
|
2 |
Arunachal
Pradesh |
52.00 |
61.00 |
59.00 |
71.50 |
45.00 |
|
3 |
Assam |
116.00 |
134.100 |
130.00 |
40.00 |
120.00 |
|
4 |
Jharkhand |
45.00 |
93.00 |
105.96 |
75.00 |
90.00 |
|
5 |
Karnataka |
93.00 |
149.660 |
186.22 |
168.00 |
110.00 |
|
6 |
Kerala |
111.88 |
188.280 |
167.40 |
170.00 |
100.00 |
|
7 |
Meghalaya |
41.00 |
64.00 |
70.00 |
30.00 |
- |
|
8 |
Nagaland |
49.00 |
42.00 |
29.00 |
48.00 |
20.00 |
|
9 |
Orissa |
108.39 |
116.100 |
137.96 |
114.00 |
100.00 |
|
10 |
Tamil Nadu |
71.26 |
117.00 |
84.00 |
112.00 |
80.00 |
|
11 |
Uttranchal |
107.00 |
129.00 |
138.90 |
82.00 |
71.86 |
|
12 |
West Bengal |
86.47 |
119.950 |
148.54 |
181.00 |
120.00 |
|
13 |
Tripura |
3.00 |
16.00 |
17.00 |
0.00 |
- |
|
14 |
Mizorum |
5.00 |
- |
0.00 |
0.00 |
- |
|
15 |
Uttar Pradesh |
- |
- |
12.00 |
0.00 |
40.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
939.00 |
1285.09 |
1333.98 |
1151.50 |
975.00** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* The sum
indicates the funds released till August 2007 |
|
** This
includes Rs. 40.56 (lakhs) released to Maharashtra |
|
There are only 17 states
in which elephants exist in the wild state. Project Elephant has declared
24 elephant reserves in 12 states to protect elephant populations in the
wild and develop their habitat. It was launched in the year 1991-92 as a
sequel to a series of efforts to conserve this magnificent species
covering primarily twelve states of India, namely Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland,
Orissa, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
|
Animal
Habitats in India (Sq km ) |
|
North -East
Region |
Maximum Area |
Minimum Area |
|
State |
|
|
|
Arunachal
Pradesh |
7800 |
7000 |
|
Assam |
20000 |
17000 |
|
Meghalaya |
10000 |
9000 |
|
Nagaland |
13000 |
1000 |
|
Mizorum |
600 |
400 |
|
Manipur |
350 |
250 |
|
Tripura |
1500 |
1000 |
|
West Bengal
(North) |
2800 |
2300 |
|
Total for
North East Region |
44350 |
37950 |
|
|
|
|
|
Eastern Part
of the Country |
|
|
|
West Bengal
(South) |
1800 |
1500 |
|
Jharkhand |
8500 |
7500 |
|
Bihar |
500 |
300 |
|
Orissa |
15000 |
12000 |
|
Total for East |
25800 |
21300 |
|
|
|
|
|
North- West
Part of The Country |
|
|
|
Uttaranchal |
4500 |
4000 |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
1000 |
500 |
|
Total for
North-West |
5500 |
4500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Part
of the Country |
|
|
|
Karnataka |
20000 |
17000 |
|
Kerala |
9500 |
9000 |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
1300 |
800 |
|
Total of South |
42800 |
36800 |
|
|
|
|
|
Islands |
|
|
|
Andaman &
Nicorbar |
600 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Total |
119550 |
101350 |
|
MAIN ACTIVITIES
Various activities are being carried out under this project.
Existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants are restored
ecologically. Scientific and planned management is being developed for
conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic
elephants in India to reduce man-elephant conflict in crucial habitats.
Promotional measures have been applied. Domestic stock activities in
crucial elephant habitats have been stopped. Wild elephants are given
protection against poachers and also against unnatural cause of deaths.
Research on Elephant management related issues; Public education and
awareness programmes and Eco-development are other measures under
implementation.
CENSUS IN ELEPHANT
RESERVES IN INDIA (2005)
First time an exclusive exercise for enumeration of wild
elephants in the ERs was done during Feb-May 2005. This exercise also
sought to experiment with two sampling methods, viz. Block Sampling; and
Line Transact-Dung Count (with Retrospective Method of Calculating Dung
Decay Rate). PE arranged Training of Trainers and also issued detailed
guidelines to the Chief Wild Life Wardens (CWLWs) and the Field
Coordinators. Elephant Reserves (ERs) specific enumeration will be
repeated in 2010.
MONITORING OF ILLEGAL
KILLING OF ELEPHANTS (MIKE) SITES:
Project Elephant has been formally implementing MIKE
(Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) programme of CITES in 10 ERs
since 01.04.2004. These include Shiwalik (Uttaranchal); Eastern Dooars
(West Bengal); Mayurbhanj (Orissa); Ripu-Chirang and Dehing-Patkai
(Assam); Garo Hills (Meghalaya); Deomali (Arunchal Pradesh); Wayanad (Kerala),
Mysore (Karnataka) and Nilgiri (Tamilnadu).
RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY AND
TRAINING PROJECTS:
-
PE
has initiated a 36-months research project (2003-04 to 2006-07) with the
help of the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, for
developing high yielding varieties of paddy not relished by elephants;
developing elephant-proof storage bins for food grains; and developing
elephant repellants. The project is being carried out at the CRRI's
research stations in Orissa and Assam.
-
PE
has also completed two projects each of 36 months duration (2003-04 to
2006-07) with the help of the Assam Agricultural University on 'Disease
Management in Captive Elephants' and 'Anatomical Studies on the Asian
Elephant'.
-
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) studied the impact of the
relocation of the Gujjars on the flora and fauna of Rajaji National Park
during (2004-05 to 2005-06) in a small project assigned by PE.
-
The Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata completed a small consultancy
project to help the West Bengal Forest Department in carrying out a
sample-based enumeration of elephants during 2005 which was assigned by
PE.
PE has
been organizing regular refresher courses for veterinarians dealing with
wild and domesticated elephants at Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur
and Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati.
