India’s 31st Elephant Reserve

Why in the News?

Recently, the Centre notifies India’s 31st elephant reserve in Tamil Nadu.

Key Points:

• The new reserve will be spread over an area of 1,197 square kilometers in Agasthiyamalai in the Tirunelveli district.
• This will be the 31st ER in the country.

About Indian Elephant:

• • Location: The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) is found in the central and southern Western Ghats, North East India, eastern India and northern India and in some parts of southern peninsular India. 

• Protection status: 

• • • Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
    • Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).

• Project elephant: 

• • It was launched in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitat & corridors.
• Census: According to the latest elephant census conducted in 2017, the population of elephants in India has reached up to about 27,312.

Karnataka had the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054).