Project elephant launched by Karnataka government to save Asian elephant in the state.

Project Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched in February 1992 to provide financial and technical support to major elephant bearing States in the country for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants. The Project is being implemented in 13 States / UTs, viz. Andhra Pradesh , Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand , Karnataka , Kerala , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Orissa , Tamil Nadu , Uttaranchal , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Based on the proposals received in the form of Annual Plan of Operations, Government of India provides financial and technical assistance to State/UT Governments for wildlife protection under the various Centrally Sponsored Schemes – Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries, Project Tiger and Project Elephant. These funds are released after scrutiny of the proposals and also subject to the availability of funds and fulfillment of procedural requirements.

There are only 17 states in which elephants exist in the wild state. Project Elephant has declared 24 elephant reserves in 12 states to protect elephant populations in the wild and develop their habitat.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Various activities are being carried out under this project.

• Existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants are restored ecologically.

• Scientific and planned management is being developed for conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India to reduce man-elephant conflict in crucial habitats.

• Promotional measures have been applied. Domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats have been stopped.

• Wild elephants are given protection against poachers and also against unnatural cause of deaths.

• Research on Elephant management related issues; Public education and awareness programs and Eco-development are other measures under implementation.