NEW DELHI– Foresters, policymakers, civil society representatives, and wildlife experts will gather in Coimbatore on Tuesday to discuss elephant conservation strategies and measures to address human-elephant conflict as part of World Elephant Day celebrations, officials said.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the event reaffirms the global commitment to conserving elephants and ensuring their long-term survival.
India is home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild elephant population, with 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified corridors, according to the 2023 Report on Elephant Corridors in India. Elephants, designated as India’s National Heritage Animal, hold deep cultural significance and benefit from strong legal protection, robust institutional frameworks, and widespread public support.
Tamil Nadu sustains a significant elephant population and plays a key role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. The Coimbatore event will feature an inaugural address by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, with Union Minister of State Kriti Vardhan Singh and Tamil Nadu Forests and Khadi Minister R.S. Rajakannappan in attendance. Senior officials from MoEF&CC, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Ministry of Railways, and other states will also participate.
A focused workshop on human-elephant conflict will bring together elephant range states to share challenges, mitigation measures, and best practices — from habitat management and corridor maintenance to public awareness campaigns and capacity building in high-conflict areas.
Aligned with Project Elephant, the initiative emphasizes community participation and scientific approaches to promote coexistence. A nationwide awareness drive will also be launched, engaging around 1.2 million schoolchildren from 5,000 schools, underscoring the scale of India’s conservation outreach. (Source: IANS)
