Elephant Reserves in India

Elephant Reserves in India UPSC and Project Elephant UPSC

India is home to a significant population of Asian elephants, and the country has established several elephant reserves and protected areas to ensure the conservation and protection of these magnificent creatures. These reserves are specifically designated to safeguard the habitat and promote the well-being of elephants and other wildlife. 

These elephant reserves in India are essential for the conservation and protection of the Asian elephant and their natural habitats. They play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and ensuring the long-term survival of this majestic species.

Table of Contents Elephant Reserves in India Elephant Reserves in Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserves in Uttarakhand Elephant Reserves in Chhattisgarh Elephant Reserves in Jharkhand Elephant Reserves in West Bengal Elephant Reserves in Odisha Elephant Reserves in Karnataka Elephant Reserves in Kerala Elephant Reserves in Tamil Nadu Elephant Reserves in Andhra Pradesh Elephant Reserves in Assam Elephant Reserves in Meghalaya Elephant Reserves in Arunachal Pradesh Elephant Reserves in Nagaland Project Elephant Elephant Corridor Elephant Reserves UPSC Question

List of Elephant Reserves in India 2023

Here is a list of Elephant Reserves in India. 

S. No.	Elephant Reserves	State
1.	Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve	Uttar Pradesh
2.	Terai Elephant Reserve	Uttar Pradesh
3.	Shivalik Elephant Reserve	Uttarakhand
4.	Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve	Chhattisgarh
5.	Lemru Elephant Reserve	Chhattisgarh
6.	Singhbhum Elephant Reserve	Jharkhand
7.	Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve	West Bengal
8.	Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve	West Bengal
9.	Mahanadi Elephant Reserve	Odisha
10.	Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve	Odisha
11.	Sambalpur Elephant Reserve	Odisha
12.	Dandeli Elephant Reserve	Karnataka
13.	Mysore Elephant Reserve	Karnataka
14.	Anamudi Elephant Reserve	Kerala
15.	Periyar Elephant Reserve	Kerala
16.	Nilambur Elephant Reserve	Kerala
17.	Wayanad Elephant Reserve	Kerala
18.	Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve	Tamil Nadu
19.	Anamalai Elephant Reserve	Tamil Nadu
20.	Coimbatore Elephant Reserve	Tamil Nadu
21.	Nilgiri Elephant Reserve	Tamil Nadu
22.	Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve	Tamil Nadu
23.	Rayala Elephant Reserve	Andhra Pradesh
24.	Chirang Ripu Elephant Reserve	Assam
25.	Dhansiri Lungding Elephant Reserve	Assam
26.	Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve	Assam
27.	Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve	Assam
28.	Sonitpur Elephant Reserve	Assam
29.	Garo Hills Elephant Reserve	Meghalaya
30.	Kameng Elephant Reserve	Arunachal Pradesh
31.	South Arunachal Elephant Reserve	Arunachal Pradesh
32.	Intanki Elephant Reserve	Nagaland
33.	Singphan Elephant Reserve	Nagaland

Elephant Reserves in Uttar Pradesh

1. Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2009
• Total Area- 744 Sq. Km

2. Terai Elephant Reserve (33rd Elephant Reserve):

• Establishment Year- 2022
• Total Area- 3049 Sq. Km
• It include forest areas of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Dudhwa Nation Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa buffer zone and parts of south Kheri forest division.
• This is the 33rd elephant reserve in India. 
• It will help in conserving trans-boundary migratory elephant population. 

Elephant Reserves in Uttarakhand

1. Shivalik Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 5405 Sq. Km
• The Kansora-Barkot Elephant Corridor is located near to it.
• It is considered to have one of the highest densities of elephants found in India.

Elephant Reserves in Chhattisgarh

1. Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2011
• Total Area- 1048.30 Sq. Km

2. Lemru Elephant Reserve (31st Elephant Reserve):

• Establishment Year- 2022
• Total Area- 450 Sq. Km
• It is located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh.

Elephant Reserves in Jharkhand

1. Singhbhum Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2001
• Total Area- 4530 Sq. Km
• It is located in Saraikela-Kharsawan Districts and West Singhbhum.

Elephant Reserves in West Bengal

1. Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 978 Sq. Km

2. Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 414 Sq. Km
• The reserve is located over parts of Paschim Medinipur district, Jhargram district and Bankura district of West Bengal, India.

Elephant Reserves in Odisha

1. Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2001
• Total Area- 3214 Sq. Km
• It includes a portion of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts of Odisha.

2. Mahanadi Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 1038 Sq. Km

3. Sambalpur Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 427 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Karnataka

1. Mysore Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 6724 Sq. Km

2. Dandeli Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2015
• Total Area- 2,321 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Kerala

1. Anamudi Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 3728 Sq. Km

2. Periyar Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 3742 Sq. Km

3. Nilambur Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 1419 Sq. Km
• It spreads across the districts of Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode.

4. Wayanad Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 1200 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Tamil Nadu

1. Anamalai Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 1457 Sq. Km

2. Coimbatore Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 566 Sq. Km

3. Nilgiri Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 4663 Sq. Km

4. Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 1249 Sq. Km

5. Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2022
• Total Area- 1200 Sq. Km
• It is the 32nd Elephant Reserve in India and Tamil Nadu’s 5th Elephant Reserve.

Elephant Reserves in Andhra Pradesh

1. Rayala Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 766 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Assam

1. Chirang Ripu Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 2600 Sq. Km

2. Dhansiri Lungding Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 766 Sq. Km

3. Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 2740 Sq. Km

4. Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 3270 Sq. Km

5. Sonitpur Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2003
• Total Area- 1420 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Meghalaya

1. Garo Hills Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2001
• Total Area- 3,500 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Arunachal Pradesh

1. Kameng Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2002
• Total Area- 1892 Sq. Km
• It is located in the districts of West Kameng and East Kameng.

2. South Arunachal Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2008
• Total Area- 1957.50 Sq. Km

Elephant Reserves in Nagaland

1. Intanki Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2005
• Total Area- 202 Sq. Km

2. Singphan Elephant Reserve:

• Establishment Year- 2018
• Total Area- 23.57 Sq. Km

Project Elephant UPSC

What is the Project Elephant Scheme?

Project Elephant is a comprehensive conservation initiative in India aimed at the protection and management of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). It was launched by the Government of India in 1992, recognizing the need to safeguard the long-term survival of these magnificent creatures and their habitats. 

The project addresses various aspects of elephant conservation, including the protection of their habitats, mitigating human-elephant conflicts, welfare of domesticated elephants, and the promotion of public awareness.

Key objectives and components of Project Elephant include:

(i) Habitat and Corridor Conservation: Protecting and improving the natural habitats and migratory corridors of elephants to ensure their long-term survival.

(ii) Human-Elephant Conflict Management: Implementing strategies to reduce conflicts between elephants and humans, such as the use of barriers, early warning systems, and compensation for crop and property damage.

(iii) Healthcare and Welfare of Captive Elephants: Ensuring the well-being of domesticated elephants by providing veterinary care and enforcing welfare standards.

(iv) Research and Monitoring: Conducting research on elephant behavior, ecology, and population dynamics, and monitoring their populations to inform conservation efforts.

(v) Capacity Building: Building the capacity of forest and wildlife departments, local communities, and other stakeholders to manage and conserve elephants effectively.

(vi) Public Awareness and Education: Raising awareness among the public about the importance of elephant conservation and fostering a sense of coexistence.

(vii) Legislation and Policy: Advocating for legal and policy reforms to enhance the protection of elephants.

(viii) Translocation and Rescue: In certain cases, elephants that pose a threat to human settlements or are displaced from their natural habitat may be relocated to suitable areas or rescued and rehabilitated.

Project Elephant has been instrumental in the conservation of elephants in India, helping to mitigate the threats they face from habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts. The project has also encouraged community participation and collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure the long-term survival of the Asian elephant in India.

Elephant Corridor UPSC

Elephant corridors, also known as elephant migration corridors or elephant pathways, are crucial natural or man-made routes that allow elephants to move between different habitats, particularly when their traditional migration routes are disrupted by human development. These corridors play a vital role in ensuring the survival and genetic diversity of elephant populations. 

Here are key points about elephant corridors:

(i) Connectivity: Elephant corridors help maintain the connectivity between fragmented elephant habitats. They allow elephants to move between areas for feeding, breeding, and seasonal migration.

(ii) Habitat Fragmentation: Human activities, such as urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure development, often lead to the fragmentation of elephant habitats. This can result in isolated elephant populations, which can lead to inbreeding and a higher risk of extinction.

(iii) Migration Patterns: Elephants are known to have extensive home ranges and may need to move long distances in search of food and water. Corridors enable them to follow their natural migration patterns.

(iv) Conservation: The establishment and protection of elephant corridors are essential for the conservation of these animals. They help reduce human-elephant conflicts by allowing elephants to move through designated pathways, avoiding human settlements and agricultural areas.

(v) Biodiversity: Elephant corridors often benefit other wildlife species as well. These pathways promote the movement of various animals, helping maintain biodiversity.

(vii) Protection Measures: Governments, wildlife authorities, and conservation organizations work to identify, protect, and maintain elephant corridors. This includes establishing legal protections, creating physical barriers to prevent human intrusion, and conducting awareness programs.

(viii) Challenges: Elephant corridors are under constant threat due to encroachments, deforestation, and illegal activities. Maintaining these corridors requires ongoing efforts and resources.

(ix) Research and Monitoring: Conservationists and researchers use tracking technology and scientific studies to better understand elephant movements and their use of corridors. This information informs conservation strategies.

(x) Global Importance: While elephant corridors are particularly important in India, where the Asian elephant is prevalent, similar initiatives exist in other countries with elephant populations, such as Africa, to protect their habitat connectivity.

The conservation and protection of elephant corridors are crucial to the long-term survival of elephant populations and the preservation of biodiversity in their ecosystems. It requires a multi-faceted approach that involves legal protections, community engagement, habitat restoration, and continued research and monitoring efforts.

Elephant Reserves UPSC Question

Q. How many Elephant Reserves in India?

A. India had established 33 Elephant Reserves.

Q. Which state has highest number of Elephant Reserves in India?

A.  The Tamil Nadu (5) and Assam (5) had the highest number of Elephant Reserves in India. 

Q. Who declares Elephant Reserves in India?/Who notifies Elephant Reserves in India?

A. In India, the declaration and notification of Elephant Reserves are typically carried out by the respective state governments, under the guidance and approval of the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The state governments identify areas with significant elephant populations and their habitats, and once a proposal is prepared and approved at the state level, it is sent to the central government for final notification.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) at the national level provides guidance, support, and coordination in the process of establishing Elephant Reserves, ensuring that they align with national conservation goals and policies. The declaration and notification of Elephant Reserves are part of a collaborative effort between the central and state governments to protect and conserve elephant populations and their habitats.

Q. How many elephant reserves are in Uttar Pradesh?

A. There were two designated Elephant Reserves in the state of Uttar Pradesh. 

1. Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve
2. Terai Elephant Reserve

Q. Where is Terai Elephant Reserve?

A. The Terai Elephant Reserve is located in the Terai region of northern India, primarily spanning parts of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Q. Which state is Lemur Elephant Reserve?

A. The Lemru Elephant Reserve is located in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It is an important elephant habitat in the Chhattisgarh region, and it plays a significant role in the conservation and protection of the Asian elephant population in the state.

Q. Where is the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve?

A. The Lemru Elephant Reserve is located in the state of Jharkhand, India.

Q. Where is Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve located?

A. The Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve is located in the state of Odisha (formerly Orissa), India. It encompasses forested regions in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

Q. Which state is Mahanadi Elephant Reserve?

A. The Mahanadi Elephant Reserve is located in the state of Odisha, India. 

Q. Where is Sambalpur Elephant Reserve?

A. Sambalpur Elephant Reserve is located in the state of Odisha, India.

Q. Where is Nilambur Elephant Reserve?

A. The Nilambur Elephant Reserve is located in the southern part of the Nilgiri Hills in the Indian state of Kerala.

Q. Where is Sonitpur Elephant Reserve located?

A. The Sonitpur Elephant Reserve is located in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated in the Sonitpur district of Assam, which is in the northeastern part of India.