The docile pachyderm or children’s adorable ‘Hathi Raja’ has been facing immense challenges in ensuring its smooth existence over the years owing to several factors. For ensuring the mammoth mammal, a decent and safe living, the world celebrates ‘World Elephant Day’ on August 12, since 2012 onwards.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
The campaign World Elephant Day was initiated in 2012 for creating awareness about the disturbing situations of African and Asian elephants. It was first observed by Canadian filmmakers Michael Clark and Patricia Sims with the Thailand-based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.
The objective of this campaign was to create a sustainable environment where animals were not exploited and instead taken good care of. In 2012, Patricia Sims founded an organization with the name World Elephant Society. The organization has succeeded to create awareness about the dangers confronted by elephants and the inevitability to protect them globally.
WHY AUGUST 12?
The date of August 12 was chosen as it coincided with a period when many elephant populations are most vulnerable owing to seasonal changes and human activities. Celebrated annually on August 12, the day serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to protect these majestic creatures.
ELEPHANTS IN INDIA
India owes the distinction of having the largest population of wild Asian Elephants, estimated at 29,964 according to the 2017 census by Project Elephant. India is home to more than 60% of all wild Asian elephants. A total of 31 elephant reserves exist in India spread over 76,508 sq km of land across 14 states.
The Dandeli Elephant Reserve of Karnataka, Singphan Elephant Reserve of Nagaland and Lemru Elephant Reserve of Chattishgarh were established in past three years.
As per the Elephant Census conducted in 2017, Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054), respectively.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.
African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)- Critically Endangered
African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta Africana)- Endangered
Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)- Endangered
ECO-SIGNIFICANCE
Elephants known as “keystone species” because of their activities are very important grazers and browsers, eating vast amounts of vegetation every day, dispersing seeds around a vast area as they move. They also help shape the often-thick vegetation of Asian landscape like in forests, elephants create clearings and gaps in trees that let sunlight to reach new seedlings, helping plants grow and the forest to regenerate naturally.
Elephants also dig water holes in case of absence of surface water thereby opening water access for themselves as well as other creatures.
KEY RESERVES
• Bandipur National park, Karnataka is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve spanning over an area of about 874 square kilometers. It is a crucial part of the Project Elephant and is home to a significant population of elephants.
• Rajaji National Park is a vital elephant sanctuary that spans across the Shivalik range, providing a critical habitat for one of the largest populations of wild elephants in North India.
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala is one of the most famous elephant reserves on India spread over 925 square kilometers, known for its large population of elephants.
• Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu located adjacent to Bandipur, the sanctuary covers an area of around 321 square kilometers. A part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, it serves as a critical habitat for elephants in the region.
MAMMOTH THREATS TO THE MAMMAL
Several forms of threats to the pachyderm had pushed some of its species on the endangered list. Be it the illegal ivory trade casting devastating effects on elephant populations or rapid urbanization, agriculture and deforestation resulting in destruction of elephant habitats thereby forcing these animals into smaller and more fragmented areas. Poachers target elephants for their tusks, which are highly valued in the black market.
Also, with human population encroaching on elephant territories, conflicts arise, often resulting in harm to both elephants and humans.
50 elephants die in collision with trains in India between 2021 to 2024
A significant 50 elephants were killed in collision with speeding trains in India between January 2021 and January 2024. As per data made available by Ministry of Railways, 19 elephants were killed in seven different zones of Indian Railways in 2021 while 14 were killed in four zones in 2022. Similarly, records revealed, 16 elephants were killed in four railway zones in 2023 while 1 as killed in the month January this year.
MEASURES TO CHECK ANIMAL-TRAIN COLLISION
In cases of elephant deaths on railway tracks, Zonal Railways investigates the incidences and conduct inquiry wherever necessary. Based on the findings in investigation, a number of measures are taken by Zonal Railways in coordination with Ministry of Environment and Forest.
• Imposition of speed restrictions in identified locations.
• Provision of fencing at isolated locations.
• Construction of underpasses and ramps for the movement of elephants at identified locations.
• Provision of signage boards at all identified elephant corridors to pre-warn loco pilots.
• Sensitization of Train Crew and Station Masters on a regular basis.
• Clearance of vegetation on sides of track within railway land to avoid attracting elephants.
• Installation of Honey bee sound systems at locations prone to crossing of elephants.
• Forest Department staff deputed in Railway control offices to liaison with Railway and elephant trackers engaged by Forest Department for timely action by alerting station master and Loco Pilots.
• Innovative Intrusion Detection System to detect movement of elephants across Railway track introduced in Lumding –Hawaipur section (24 Km) of Lumding Division in Assam and in Chalsa-Hasimara section (60 Km) of Alipurduar Division in West Bengal.
AI enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Indian Railways has taken up the work for installation of Optical Fiber Cable based Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) also known as AI enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for detecting presence of Elephants/wild animals on track or nearby track at identified corridor locations. This system helps to get advance intimation regarding movement of Elephants/wild animals for taking timely action and transmitting alerts to loco pilots, station master and control room. The development and effectiveness of Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a continuous and ongoing process and RDSO is working to further improve system functionality and reliability.
So far, the above system has been installed in about 54 Route Km length of Northeast Frontier Railway. Further, a work of installation of this system in various zonal railways (including South Western Railway) has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 208 Crore.
ZONE-WISE NUMBER OF ELEPHANT DEATHS ON RAILWAY TRACKS
| Railways Zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Till Jan 30, 2024 |
| East Coast Railway | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Northern Railway | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| North Eastern Railway | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway | 5 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Southern Railway | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| South Eastern Railway | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| South Western Railway | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |