A synchronized elephant population estimation survey conducted from May 23 to 25, 2024, across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, revealed an increase in Tamil Nadu's wild elephant population to approximately 3,063. This represents a slight increase from the 2,961 recorded in 2023.
The survey utilized direct (sample block count) and indirect (line transect dung count) methods, along with waterhole monitoring to estimate the population and assess its structure. Data was collected from 26 forest divisions by 2,178 personnel.
The Sathyamangalam forest division had the highest estimated elephant population (372), followed by Coimbatore (336), STR-Hassanur (279), MTR-Udhagai (271), MTR-Masinagudi (263), and Hosur (240). The Nilgiris Eastern Ghats Reserve showed the highest density among the five elephant reserves.
The report notes that the slight variation between 2023 and 2024 is expected due to elephant movement between contiguous habitats across state borders. The overall age-sex composition of 178 elephants showed a healthy balance: 40% adults, 33% sub-adults, 17% juveniles, and 10% calves.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas R. Reddy highlighted a stable elephant population, suggesting that Tamil Nadu's carrying capacity is around 3,200 elephants. He also noted a decrease in unnatural deaths from poaching and electrocution. The Forest Department's efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict are ongoing, including prompt compensation for damages.
Tamil Nadu has around 3,063 elephants, according to the synchronised elephant population estimation done from May 23 to May 25 this year in the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This is an increase from 2,961 elephants, recorded in the previous survey in 2023.
The Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation Tamil Nadu 2024 report, released by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday, says that the exercise involved data collection from 26 forest divisions, including tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, territorial divisions, and the Mukurthi National Park by a total of 2,178 persons.
The survey estimated wild elephant population and assessed their structure using direct (sample block count) and indirect (line transect dung count) methods. Waterhole monitoring was done to assess the population structure.
In the sample block count method, the estimated population was the highest in STR-Sathyamangalam forest division (372), followed by Coimbatore (336), STR-Hassanur (279), MTR-Udhagai (271), MTR-Masinagudi (263), and Hosur (240).
Among the five elephant reserves, the Nilgiris Eastern Ghats Reserve has the highest density of elephants, followed by Nilambur-Silent Valley-Coimbatore, Agasthyamalai, Anamalai-Parambikulam, and Periyar. The Nilgiri and Coimbatore Elephant Reserves together represent about 70% to 80% of the total elephant population in the State. These reserves are connected to Wayanad and Nilambur Reserves in Kerala, and Mysore Reserve in Karnataka, forming the Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats landscape.
The elephant population found in the reserves of Tamil Nadu are part of the larger population that range into the adjoining States of Karnataka and Kerala. Therefore, a marginal variation in the total number of elephants between 2023 and 2024 is expected due to the movement of the elephants to the adjoining State habitats that are contiguous with those in Tamil Nadu, the report said.
Speaking to The Hindu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Srinivas R. Reddy pointed out that the latest estimate points to a stable elephant population, and around 3,000 was a good number. He said that Tamil Nadu could not hold more than 3,200 elephants as that was the saturation point, given the forest cover and the current population density.
The population mix is also healthy, he added.
The overall age-sex composition of the 178 elephants revealed that 40% were adults, 33% were sub-adults, 17% were juvenile, and 10% were calf in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Reddy noted that unnatural deaths from poaching and electrocution had decreased compared to last year. In addition to reducing these deaths, the Forest Department has been working to reduce conflicts and public retaliation by providing prompt compensation for human deaths, injuries, or crop damage, he further said.
Published - August 04, 2024 12:30 am IST
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