ELEPHANT NUMBERS FALL NEARLY 18%: SURVEY, Pg9.

Key Highlights:

• India's Asian elephant population is estimated at 22,446 in 2021-2025, a 17.81% decrease from the previous estimate.
• Karnataka has the highest elephant population at 6,013, followed by Assam (4,159) and Tamil Nadu (3,136).
• The Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2021-25 used a new methodology based on dung sampling and DNA analysis.
• The report identifies habitat loss, fragmentation, and mining pressures as major threats to elephant populations.

Detailed Insights:

• The SAIEE 2021-25 report uses a new genetic mark-recapture model, analyzing over 20,000 dung samples to identify 4,065 unique elephants.
• Elephant populations are highest in the Western Ghats (11,934), followed by the North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra floodplains (6,559).
• Habitat loss due to expanding tea/coffee plantations, invasive species, and development projects is disconnecting elephant populations in the Western Ghats.
• The report calls for improved habitat connectivity and stronger law enforcement, especially in the Northeast, to ensure the long-term survival of elephants.
• Mining pressures in Central India and habitat fragmentation from railway lines, roads, and power infrastructure pose significant threats to elephant corridors.
• The new methodology, modeled on the tiger estimation framework, divides forests into smaller blocks to record elephant signs and other ecological indicators.
• Concerns remain regarding distress and disturbances faced by elephants, particularly in the eastern-central landscape, due to deforestation and mining.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Genetic Mark-Recapture Model: A method using DNA from samples to identify individuals and estimate population size.
• Dung Sampling: Collecting elephant excrement to extract DNA for individual identification and population analysis.
• Habitat Fragmentation: The division of continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches, disrupting wildlife movement.