Lok Sabha Question No. 2239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Conservation of Elephants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant, Ms Sayani Ghosh

## 2239   MS SAYANI GHOSH:

## SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  latest  Elephant  Census,  if  so,  the  total number of elephants in National Parks, Tiger Reserves and Protected areas across the country;
- (b) the data on elephant deaths across the country during the last five years, including the causes of these deaths, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c) the details of specific measures being taken by the Government to address the increasing number of elephant fatalities and to mitigate the causes;
- (d) the details of the schemes that are operational for the conservation of elephants and habitat restoration along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard during the last five years;
- (e) the details of funds allocated and utilised for the conservation of elephants and habitat restoration during the last five years, State-wise; and
- (f) the  measures  taken  in  Elephant  Corridors  including  Lemru  Elephant  Corridor  in Chhattisgarh to mitigate elephant attacks and conservation during the last five years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) The total elephant population in the country as per the synchronized elephant estimation 2017 is 29964.  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in coordination with Wildlife  Institute  of  India  and  the  State  Forest  Departments,  has  initiated  'All  India Synchronized Elephant Estimation'.
- (b)to(f)  The State-wise details of elephant deaths due various reasons like train hits, electrocution, poaching  and  poisoning,  during  the  last  five  years,  as  per  the  information  received  from States, are enclosed as Annexure-I. The management of wildlife including mitigation and management  of  human-elephant  conflict  (HEC)  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  State Governments/UTs Administration.  The state forest departments are working with the local people to address the HEC issues through periodic awareness campaigns to sensitize, guide and advise the general public on man-animal conflict, including dissemination of information through  various  forms  of  media.    Further,  Forest  Departments  are  engaging  with  local communities as animal trackers to monitor the movement of elephants and also to caution

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2239

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Conservation of Elephants

local  people  to  avoid  human-elephant  conflict,  prevent  damage  or  loss  of  human  life  and elephants.  Lemru is not a corridor but declared as an Elephant Reserve on 07.10.2021 with 199548 Hectar area. State has constituted a High Level Committee to solve the issues related to  Lemru  Elephant  Reserve  and  the  committee's  recommendations  are  being  taken up  as reported by the State.

In addition, Ministry has taken the following measures to prevent elephant deaths:-

- (i) The  Ministry  is  providing  financial  and  technical  assistance  to  States/UTs  under  the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Project Tiger & Elephant (CSS-PT&E) for protection of elephants,  their  habitat  and  corridors,  to  address  issues  of  man-elephant  conflict  and welfare of captive elephants in the country. The details of fund allocated to the States/UTs under the CSS-PT&E and utilisation thereon by the State/UTs under the scheme, during the last 5 years, is given in Annexure-II.
- (ii) Other  various  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  including  Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitat being implemented by this Ministry contribute to the improvement in the natural habitat of elephants by augmenting water sources, planting of fodder trees, regeneration of bamboo etc. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made there under also provide for use of the Fund for development of wildlife habitats, including for elephants, establishment of animal rescue centres, etc. which also contribute to reduction in HEC.
- (iii) An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the Ministry in February,  2021.  The  advisory  recommends coordinated  inter-departmental action, identification  of  conflict  hot  spots,  adherence  to  Standard  Operating  Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review  the  quantum  of  ex-gratia  relief,  issuing  guidance/instructions  for  expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for suitable portion of ex-gratia relief to be paid within 24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
- (iv) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also issued Guidelines to States/UTs on 3 rd June, 2022 on managing Human Wildlife conflicts including damage to crops. It includes promotion of crops in forest fringe areas which are unpalatable to wild animals, agro forestry models which include cash crops like chillies, lemon grass, khus grass etc. suitably mixed with tree/shrub species. It also includes preparation and implementation  of  comprehensive  long-term  plan  for  alternate  cropping  by  the  state Agriculture/Horticulture Department under different schemes in vulnerable areas.
- (v) The  Wildlife  Institute of India, Dehradun  in  consultation  with  the  Ministry  of Environment Forest, and Climate Change, National Highway Authority, National Tiger Conservation Authority and World Bank Group has published a document namely 'Ecofriendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure' (2016) to assist project agencies  in  designing  linear  infrastructure,  including  railways  lines,  in  a  manner  that reduces human-animal conflicts.
- (vi) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in coordination with the State Forest Departments, have ground-validated 150 elephant corridors across 15 elephant range  states  (i.e.  Andhra  Pradesh,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar  Pradesh,  and  West  Bengal)  in  India  and  informed  the  State  Governments/UT Administrations to take necessary steps to protect and conserve the elephant corridors.
- (vii) Critical  elephant  habitats  are  notified  as  'Elephant  Reserve'  for  focus  and  synergy  in elephant  conservation  and  to  reduce  conflict.  The  notification  is  carried  out  with  the approval of Steering Committee formed in the Ministry.  So far 33 Elephant Reserves have been established in 14 major elephant States.
- (viii) A field  manual  for  frontline  staff  to  manage  Human  Elephant  Conflict  was  released during  the  16 th meeting  of  the  Steering  Committee  on  29 th April,  2022.    Further,  the manual has been translated in local languages including Odia.
- (ix) The  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  regulatory  functions  for  dealing  with human wildlife conflict situations.
- (x) Advisory on implementation of measures to mitigate the impact of power transmission lines and other power infrastructure on elephant and other wildlife issued by Ministry of Power to all DISCOMs and TRANSCOs has been circulated to all States/UTS on 16 th September, 2022.
- (xi) Ministry also released a Guidelines for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation-Taking a Harmonious Coexistence Approach (2023) for addressing human-elephant conflicts.
- (xii) To  reduce man-elephant conflict and to avoid retaliatory killing of elephants. Compensation is provided to local communities for loss of their property and life caused by wild elephants. The Ministry has notified enhancement of ex-gratia rates related to wildlife  depredation  vide  letter  No.  WL-21/4/2023  WL  dated  22 nd December,  2023, which includes increase in ex-gratia from ₹5lakh to ₹10 lakh in case of death by wild animals.
- (xiii) A  permanent  Co-ordination  Committee  has  been  constituted  between  Ministry  of Railways  and  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  for  preventing elephant death in train accident.
- (xiv) Inter-ministerial meeting convened regularly with the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Power to holistically address the issue of accidental death of elephant due to train hit and electrocution.
- (xv) A  Recommended  Operating  Procedure  for  capture  and  translocation  of  elephants  in distress and conflicts released during the World Elephant Day 2024.
- (xvi) A  Capacity  Building  Workshop  on  'Mainstreaming  Management  of  The  Elephant Reserves'  was  conducted  on  13  -15 th March,  2023  at  Wildlife  Institute  of  India, Dehradun.
- (xvii) A Capacity Building Workshop on 'Minimizing the Impact of the Railway on Elephants and  Other  Wildlife'  for  the  officials  of  Indian  Railways  was  conducted  on  23-25th November, 2023 at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
- (xviii) A  Capacity  Building  Workshop  on  'Mainstreaming  Management  of  The  Elephant Reserves  was  conducted  on  28-  29 th November,  2023  at  Wildlife  Institute  of  India, Dehradun.
- (xix) A Capacity Building Workshop on 'Exploring solution for minimizing electrocution risk and promoting wildlife safety across power infrastructure in India' was conducted on 1113th January, 2024 at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
- (xx) A  capacity  building  workshops  on  "Minimizing  Electrocution  Risks  and  Promoting Wildlife Safety Across Power Infrastructure in India" and "Minimizing the Impact of the Railway on Elephants and Other Wildlife" from 20 - 22 nd November, 2024 at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

***

REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  to  (f)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2239  RAISED  BY  MS  SAYANI  GHOSH  AND  SMT.  JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.12.2024.

## Elephant casualties in train accidents during last five years

| S.No.   | State   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   |   2021-22 |   2022-23 | 2023-24       |
|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------|
| 1       | 2       | 5         | 8         |         7 |         2 | Assam         |
| 2       | 5       | 0         | 0         |         1 |         4 | West Bengal   |
| 3       | 0       | 1         | 3         |         0 |         0 | Tamil Nadu    |
| 4       | 1       | 1         | 0         |         1 |         1 | Jharkhand     |
| 5       | 3       | 0         | 0         |         2 |         0 | Kerala        |
| 6       | 1       | 4         | 3         |         3 |         5 | Odisha        |
| 7       | 0       | 0         | 0         |         0 |         1 | Tripura       |
| 8       | 2       | NR        | NR        |         1 |         4 | Uttarakhand   |
| 9       | 0       | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 10      |         | 0 1       | 1         |         0 |         0 | Karnataka     |
|         | Total   | 14        | 12        |        15 |        15 | 17            |

* NR- Information not received from State.

ANNEXURE-I

REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  to  (f)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2239  RAISED  BY  MS  SAYANI  GHOSH  AND  SMT.  JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.12.2024.

Elephant casualties due to electrocution during last five years

| S.No.   | State             |   2019-20 | 2020-21   | 2021-22   |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh    |         5 | 1         | NR        |         5 |         6 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh |         0 | 0         | NR        |         1 |         0 |
| 3       | Assam             |        11 | 13        | 12        |         8 |        11 |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh      |         2 | 7         | 4         |         9 |        10 |
| 5       | Jharkhand         |         5 | 5         | 4         |         6 |        10 |
| 6       | Karnataka         |         8 | 9         | 7         |        15 |        13 |
| 7       | Kerala            |         4 | 2         | 6         |         7 |        10 |
| 8       | Maharashtra       |         0 | NR        | 0         |         0 |         2 |
| 9       | Meghalaya         |         5 | 0         | 1         |         1 |         1 |
| 10      | Nagaland          |         2 | 1         | 1         |         0 |         1 |
| 11      | Odisha            |         9 | 8         | 13        |        26 |        15 |
| 12      | Tamil Nadu        |        15 | 9         | 5         |        14 |         6 |
| 13      | Tripura           |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 14      | Uttar Pradesh     |         3 | 0         | 2         |         0 |         1 |
| 15      | Uttarakhand       |         2 | NR        | NR        |         3 |         1 |
| 16      | West Bengal       |         5 | 10        | 2         |         5 |         7 |
|         | Total             |        76 | 65        | 57        |       100 |        94 |

*NR- Information not received from State.

ANNEXURE-I

REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  to  (f)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2239  RAISED  BY  MS  SAYANI  GHOSH  AND  SMT.  JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.12.2024.

Elephant casualties due to poaching during the last five years

| S.No           | State     | 2019-20   | 2020-21   |   2021-22 | 2022-23   | 2023-24        |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------|
| 1              | 0         | 0         | NR        |         0 | 0         | Andhra Pradesh |
| 2 Arunachal    | Pradesh 0 | 0         | NR        |         0 | 0         |                |
| 3 Assam        | 0         | 0         | 0         |         2 | 1         |                |
| 4 Chhattisgarh | 0         | 0         | 0         |         0 | 0         |                |
| Jharkhand      | 1         | 0         | 0         |         0 | 0         | 5              |
| 6 Karnataka    | 0         | 0         | 0         |         0 | 0         |                |
| 7              | 1         | 1         | 0         |         0 | 0         | Kerala         |
| 8 Maharashtra  | 0         | NR        | 0         |         0 | 0         |                |
| Meghalaya      | 4         | 7         | 0         |         3 | 0         | 9              |
| Nagaland       | 0         | 2         | 0         |         0 | 0         | 10             |
| Odisha         | 3         | 2         | 1         |         8 | 3         | 11             |
| 12 Tamil Nadu  | 0         | 2         | 3         |         1 | 4         |                |
| 13 Tripura     | 0         | 0         | 0         |         0 | 0         |                |
| 14 Uttar       | Pradesh 0 | 0         | 0         |         0 | 0         |                |
| 15 Uttarakhand | 0         | NR        | NR        |         0 | 0         |                |
| 16 West        | Bengal 0  | 0         | 0         |         0 | 1         |                |
|                | Total     | 9         | 14 4      |        14 |           | 9              |

*NR- Information not received from State.

ANNEXURE-I

REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  to  (f)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2239  RAISED  BY  MS  SAYANI  GHOSH  AND  SMT.  JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.12.2024.

Elephant casualties due to poisoning during the last five years

| S.No.   | State             |   2019-20 | 2020-21   | 2021-22   |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh    |         0 | 0         | NR        |         0 |         0 |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh |         0 | 0         | NR        |         0 |         0 |
| 3       | Assam             |         0 | 1         | 6         |         2 |         1 |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh      |         0 | 1         | 0         |         1 |         0 |
| 5       | Jharkhand         |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 6       | Karnataka         |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 7       | Kerala            |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 8       | Maharashtra       |         0 | NR        | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 9       | Meghalaya         |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 10      | Nagaland          |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 11      | Odisha            |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 12      | Tamil Nadu        |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 13      | Tripura           |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 14      | Uttar Pradesh     |         0 | 0         | 0         |         0 |         0 |
| 15      | Uttarakhand       |         0 | NR        | NR        |         0 |         0 |
| 16      | West Bengal       |         0 | 0         | 0         |         1 |         0 |
| Total   |                   |         0 | 2         | 6         |         4 |         1 |

*NR- Information not received from State.

ANNEXURE-II

REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  to  (f)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2239  RAISED  BY  MS  SAYANI  GHOSH  AND  SMT.  JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.12.2024.

## Fund allocated and utilized under Centrally Sponsored Scheme Project Tiger & Elephant

(₹ in lakh)

| S l. N   |                     | 2019-20    | 2019-20    | 2020-21    | 2020-21   | 2021-22    | 2021-22    | 2022-23    | 2022-23    | 2023-24*    | 2023-24*    |
|----------|---------------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-------------|-------------|
| o.       | States              | Alloc ated | Utiliz ed  | Alloc ated | Utiliz ed | Alloc ated | Utiliz ed  | Alloc ated | Utiliz ed  | Alloca ted  | Utilize d   |
| 1.       | Andhr a Prades h    | 127.0 3    | 85.51      | 77.28      | 58.62 8   | 20.55 65   | 39.20 85   | 0.00       | 10.72      | 149.42 1    | 118.05 1    |
| 2.       | Aruna chal Prades h | 103.2 6831 | 101.2 7    | 282.2 56   | 253.0 56  | 157.7 615  | 186.5 99   | 26.88 75   | 26.88 75   | 1119.9 145  | 1119.9 145  |
| 3.       | Assam               | 0.00       | 256.6 8752 | 35.28 4    | 0.00      | 126.7 16   | 80.50      | 167.4 0    | 167.3 9909 | 2619.3 0784 | 2583.3 8251 |
| 4.       | Chhatt isgarh       | 0.00       | 0.00       | 0.00       | 0.00      | 24.78 5    | 0.00       | 0.00       | 29.71 110  | 292.85 5    | 215.16 5    |
| 5.       | Jharkh and          | 131.5 86   | 137.3 556  | 111.8 6522 | 143.0 7   | 86.68 2    | 77.14 962  | 78.05      | 44.82      | 405.78 5    | 405.78 5    |
| 6.       | Karnat aka          | 319.6 4799 | 366.6 2    | 330.4 0376 | 423.2 3   | 261.1 95   | 241.0 278  | 97.84 53   | 104.0 87   | 2613.0 834  | 2612.7 746  |
| 7.       | Kerala              | 312.2 736  | 532.4 1    | 574.5 6    | 574.5 6   | 580.9 6765 | 523.1 9    | 270.0 9    | 282.2 4    | 996.22 425  | 932.97 425  |
| 8.       | Mahar ashtra        | 44.19 44   | 24.76      | 17.98      | 12.84     | 0.00       | 0.00       | 28.52 4    | 28.52 4    | 2614.4 5167 | 2533.7 686  |
| 9.       | Megha laya          | 177.8 976  | 177.8 976  | 9.36       | 9.36      | 141.7 5    | 141.7 5    | 32.14      | 32.14      | 65.25       | 65.25       |
| 1 0.     | Nagal and           | 213.9 498  | 213.9 498  | 92.50      | 92.50     | 219.7 215  | 192.9 78   | 235.5 75   | 235.5 75   | 337.77      | 337.77      |
| 1 1.     | Odish a             | 319.1 328  | 376.7 8814 | 577.9 9    | 588.2 4   | 567.0 45   | 510.3 8646 | 212.7 695  | 265.5 7195 | 1012.5 8764 | 1009.7 0243 |
| 1 2.     | Tamil Nadu          | 275.1 576  | 265.8 41   | 0.00       | 0.00      | 181.8 464  | 174.1 51   | 85.94 05   | 115.2 18   | 2547.9 6648 | 2495.6 725  |
| 1 3.     | Tripur a            | 45.38      | 42.53      | 24.71      | UC NR**   | 0.00       | 20.78 266  | 7.365 16   | 11.81 25   | 27.085 5    | 24.618 96   |
| 1 4.     | Uttar Prades h      | 37.74      | 34.44      | 0.00       | 0.00      | 45.99 3    | 48.28 8    | 9.858      | 11.76 3    | 1031.9 767  | 1031.9 767  |
| 1 5.     | Uttara khand        | 417.3 12   | 365.6 3    | 204.8 5    | 156.7 0   | 244.1 2375 | 235.9 4802 | 18.74 15   | 57.46 5    | 1495.5 241  | 1440.2 141  |

| 1 6.   | West Benga l       | 113.2 54    | 108.0 3694   | 64.19 58    | 64.16 352   | 87.87 17   | 81.70 052   | 30.05       | 35.01 201   | 522.58 101   | 517.05 995   |
|--------|--------------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|-------------|------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|--------------|
| 1 7.   | Rajast han         | 35.28       | 24.00        | 0.00        | 0.00        | 15.18      | 16.98 606   | 6.186 09    | 11.40       | 968.30 04    | 845.76 763   |
| 1 8.   | Bihar              | 57.02 752   | 59.71        | 39.08       | 1.48        | 0.00       | 0.00        | 0.00        | 22.86 65    | 308.98 25    | 297.81 324   |
| 1 9.   | Harya na           | 13.44       | 13.44        | 11.04       | 11.04       | 4.234 5    | 4.234 5     | 17.40       | 17.40       | 26.10        | 26.10        |
| 2 0.   | Manip ur           | 10.94 4     | 10.94 4      | 0.00        | 0.00        | 5.40       | 5.40        | 0.00        | 5.40        | 14.121       | 14.121       |
| 2 1.   | Madh ya Prades h   | 13.69 5     | 6.66         | 0.00        | 0.00        | 12.61 3    | 12.16       | 11.38 8     | 15.38 9     | 4303.7 94    | 4290.9 94    |
| 2 2.   | Mizor am           | 0.00        | 0.00         | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00       | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00        | 144.00       | 144.00       |
| 2 3.   | Telang ana         | 0.00        | 0.00         | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00       | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00        | 323.30 8     | 323.30 8     |
| 2 4.   | Himac hal Prades h | 0.00        | 0.00         | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00       | 0.00        | 0.00        | 0.00        | 19.61        | UC NR**      |
| Total  | Total              | 2768. 21062 | 3204. 4806   | 2453. 35478 | 2388. 86752 | 2784. 4425 | 2592. 44014 | 1336. 21055 | 1531. 40165 | 23959. 99999 | 23386. 18397 |

** Utilization Certificate not received from State.

****