SAVING THE ELEPHANT

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

In the early 1970s, Project Tiger, launched by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had helped the tiger come back almost from the brink. In the process, Mrs. Gandhi had set a shining example of government initiative for other Asian countries to emulate, as the Project Tiger symbolized India’s dedication not only to protect the tiger but all wildlife as such. Now in the wake of the enormous success of that project comes another government initiative Project Elephant.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

Launched on april 1, 1991, this Project too aims at preserving and protecting this fascinating animal which has almost become a part of the Indian lore and psyche. It even forms a divine part of the Hindu my theology as it is considered a synonym of the elephant- headed Lord Ganesha.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

Project Elephant envisages improvement of degraded forest areas to ensure better availability of fodder and drinking water to the elephant ranges; linking of the fragmented parts of the elephant ranges by establishing migratory corridors; mitigating the socioeconomic problems of the people associated with the conservation of elephants; managing the problematic elephant population on scientific lines; strengthening anti-poaching infrastructure and effectively safeguarding against the illegal trade in ivory.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

For the first time, the Project proposes to limit the population of the elephants in a particular habitat vis-à-vis the maximum carrying capacity of land and forests. As the excessive population of elephants beyond the sustainable limit in any habitat leads to lesser availability of fodder and water, the Project suggests limited captures of elephants to maintain the population within limits. The captured animals will be used in forest operations and other domesticated uses.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

The Indian Elephant is a familiar sight as a domesticated animal throughout south-east Asia. It is slightly smaller than its African counterpart and easily distinguished by its smaller ears and rounded, rather than hollow, back. Its hind feet have four nails instead of the African’s three and its trunk only a single ‘lip’. The cows usually lack tusks and those of the bulls are seldom very large.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

Being forest animals, elephants have suffered, like so many others, from the relentless erosion of their habitat. In the Indian subcontinent, their largest surviving wild population is in the north-eastern forests where there are about 6500; in central Indian there are 2200 and in the north-west another 500, including those in Corbett National Park. An isolated population of about 6000 exists in southern India at the junction of the three states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Everywhere their numbers are declining.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

Domesticated elephants are of great economic value, but their numbers are longer sustained by recruitment from the wild. Elephant round-ups have now been suspended altogether and stocks are being supplemented from calves born from already domesticated cows. They are, however, difficult to breed in captivity, partly because it is almost impossible to control bulls when they are in musth and partly because cows with small calves cannot work for a long time.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

Calves do not begin work until 15 years old. The cows are therefore condemned to a life of celibacy and toil. Nevertheless, they occasionally contrive to mate with wild bulls.

SAVING THE ELEPHANT

A strange thing about elephants is that apart from their tusk, they have six, sometimes seven, molar on each jaw, but only one set of molar is used for eating. When this set wears off, the next set is used. When the last set is in use, the elephants understand their end is near.