ELEPHANT RESERVES OF INDIA

Elephant Reserves of India

        India is home to the largest population of Asian elephants in the world, with an estimated 27,312 individuals according to the 2017 census. This represents about 55% of the species’ global population. These elephants are spread across 33 Elephant Reserves in 10 elephant landscapes across 14 states, covering an area of approximately 80,000 square kilometers of forested habitats.

The home range of an elephant herd can vary significantly depending on the landscape. For instance:

• • In Rajaji National Park (NP), the average home range of an elephant herd is about 250 square kilometers.
  • In contrast, in more fragmented landscapes such as those in West Bengal, the home range can extend to over 3,500 square kilometers.

The conservation of these elephants and their habitats is crucial, as their large territorial needs and the challenges posed by habitat fragmentation make them vulnerable. The efforts to protect these majestic animals through the establishment of elephant reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are essential for ensuring their survival.

Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve – Chhattisgarh

• • Location: Surajpur district, Chhattisgarh.

       This Elephant Reserve (ER) is a crucial sanctuary for elephants migrating from Jharkhand, a region severely impacted by open-cast coal mining activities. These mining operations have fragmented the natural habitat of elephants, pushing them to seek refuge in safer areas. However, the very districts that provide sanctuary for elephants in Chhattisgarh are also hotspots for coal mining, raising concerns about the future of elephant migration and their long-term survival in this region.

      The Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve spans the Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and the forested areas lying between Badalkhol WLS and the Guru Ghasidas National Park (NP). This interconnected forest landscape serves as a vital ecological corridor for elephants, providing them with a haven for their migration and movement.

Kameng-Sonitpur Landscape – Arunachal Pradesh and Assam

Kameng Elephant Reserve – Arunachal Pradesh

• • Location: The Kameng Elephant Reserve is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, spanning the districts of West Kameng and East Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh. This landscape is ecologically significant, housing a diverse range of flora and fauna.

The Kameng ER is part of a larger, interconnected network of protected areas that includes Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), and the Pakke Tiger Reserve (TR). These areas collectively contribute to the preservation of the elephant population and their habitats, forming an essential ecological unit for the movement and conservation of elephants in this region.

Sonitpur Elephant Reserve – Assam & Arunachal Pradesh

• • Location: The Sonitpur Elephant Reserve lies along the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It serves as the southern extension of the Kameng Elephant Reserve, thereby strengthening the connectivity between different protected areas that support elephant populations in this region.

This reserve is strategically positioned to protect critical elephant habitats and migratory corridors, and it includes significant protected areas such as the Nameri Tiger Reserve (TR) in Assam and the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). These areas provide a safe environment for elephants while also supporting the preservation of other endangered species in the region.

Eastern-South Bank Landscape – Assam & Arunachal Pradesh

Dihing-Patkai Elephant Reserve – Assam

• • Location: The Dihing-Patkai Elephant Reserve is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. It is an area of immense ecological importance, home to dense forests and diverse wildlife species.

The Dihing Patkai National Park (NP), located within this reserve, is a significant part of the Dihing-Patkai ER, known for its rich biodiversity and undisturbed ecosystems. The forest is characterized by its tropical and subtropical climate, supporting various endangered species, including elephants. The reserve plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the elephant population in this area, providing a safe haven for their migration and daily activities.

South Arunachal Elephant Reserve – Arunachal Pradesh

• • Location: The South Arunachal Elephant Reserve is located in the southern part of Arunachal Pradesh. This reserve is contiguous with the Dihing-Patkai ER of Assam, creating a larger conservation landscape for elephants.

Key protected areas within this reserve include the Namdapha Tiger Reserve, which is renowned for its diverse range of flora and fauna. The South Arunachal Elephant Reserve plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of elephant corridors and provides safe passage for elephants as they move between habitats.

Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki Landscape – Assam and Nagaland

Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve – Assam

• • Location: The Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve is located in the East Karbi Anglong district of Assam, extending from the Brahmaputra River in the north to the Karbi Anglong Hills in the south.

This extensive reserve is part of a larger conservation network, including the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Nambor-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Nambor WLS. The reserve’s location plays a crucial role in the movement and protection of elephants, ensuring their connectivity with other ecosystems in the region.

Dhansiri-Lungding Elephant Reserve – Assam

• • Location: The Dhansiri-Lungding Elephant Reserve lies south of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER, extending towards the Dhansiri River. This reserve is contiguous with the Intanki Elephant Reserve in Nagaland.

The presence of these reserves provides vital corridors for elephant movement and helps mitigate human-wildlife conflict by preserving essential habitats.

Intanki Elephant Reserve – Nagaland

• • Location: The Intanki Elephant Reserve is located in the southern part of Nagaland, near the border with Assam. This reserve is strategically important for maintaining ecological continuity across Assam and Nagaland, supporting the movement of elephants and other wildlife species.

Singphan Elephant Reserve – Nagaland

• • Location: The Singphan Elephant Reserve is located in the Mon district of Nagaland. This reserve is contiguous with the Dihing-Patkai Elephant Reserve of Assam, further enhancing the connectivity of elephant habitats across the region.

North Bengal-Greater Manas Landscape – Assam

Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve – Assam

• • Location: The Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve is situated in the extreme western part of Assam, bordering West Bengal. It includes the Ripu and Chirang reserve forests, which are part of the buffer zone of Manas Tiger Reserve (TR).

This region is home to a significant population of the endangered Golden Langur (EN), and the forests of Chirang-Ripu play a crucial role in the conservation of this species. Furthermore, the Ripu-Chirang forests act as a critical link between the Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal), the Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan), and the Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan), creating an international conservation corridor for elephants and other wildlife.

Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve – West Bengal

• • Location: The Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve is located in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. It comprises significant protected areas such as the Jaldapara National Park (NP), Pakhi Bitan Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), and parts of the Buxa Tiger Reserve (TR).

This landscape serves as an important elephant habitat and a migratory corridor, facilitating the movement of elephants between different forested areas in West Bengal and Assam.

Meghalaya Landscape

Garo Hills Elephant Reserve – Meghalaya

• • Location: Spanning the East and West Garo Hills of Meghalaya, this reserve plays a crucial role in elephant conservation in the region.
  • The Garo Hills ER consists of significant protected areas including Nokrek National Park (NP), Balpakram National Park (NP), and Siju Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). These areas are surrounded by dense Reserved Forests that provide vital corridors for elephants to migrate and establish territories.

Khasi Hills Elephant Reserve – Meghalaya

• • Location: The reserve is located in the West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya. This region is vital for maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding landscapes and ensures the continued protection of elephant populations in the area.

Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghat Landscape

Mysore Elephant Reserve – Karnataka

• • Location: The Mysore Elephant Reserve is an integral part of the Muttodi-Bhadra Tiger Reserve (TR), Brahmagiri and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (TR) – Bandipur Tiger Reserve corridor.
  • Nagarhole TR and Bandipur TR are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (BR), making this landscape a crucial conservation unit for elephants. The reserve contributes significantly to the connectivity of forested areas across southern India, enabling safe elephant migration.

Wayanad Elephant Reserve – Kerala

• • Location: The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Kerala has been declared an Elephant Reserve. This sanctuary is contiguous with the Mysore Elephant Reserve and the Nilgiri Elephant Reserve.
  • The Wayanad WLS and Aralam WLS are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (BR). The reserve is essential for elephant conservation, particularly as it forms an important ecological link between Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Nilgiri Elephant Reserve – Tamil Nadu

• • Location: The Nilgiri Elephant Reserve encompasses the entire Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest protected forest areas in India, stretching across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
  • The Nilgiri Elephant Corridor connects the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, playing a critical role in sustaining the elephant populations and ensuring their genetic diversity. It spans across fragile ecosystems like the Sigur Plateau and links key protected areas like Mudumalai NP.

The Supreme Court has upheld the Tamil Nadu government’s authority to establish the Nilgiri Elephant Corridor, recognizing elephants as a “keystone species” and emphasizing the state’s duty to protect these migratory paths. This move further strengthens the conservation efforts in the region.

Rayala Elephant Reserve – Andhra Pradesh

• • Location: Situated at the junction of the Kolar Plateau in Andhra Pradesh, the Rayala Elephant Reserve includes areas such as the Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), located at the point where the plateau slopes down into the plains of Tamil Nadu. This reserve helps preserve important elephant habitats and provides a migration corridor for elephants moving across the plateau.

Nilambur Elephant Reserve – Kerala

• • Location: The Nilambur Elephant Reserve lies across the districts of Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode in Kerala.
  • It includes key protected areas such as the Salient Valley National Park and New Amarambalam Wildlife Sanctuary, which contribute to elephant conservation in the region. The Nilambur ER is contiguous with the Wayanad Elephant Reserve and the Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, providing a vital link in the elephant corridor across southern India.

Coimbatore Elephant Reserve – Tamil Nadu

• • Location: Located near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, this reserve is adjacent to the Nilambur Elephant Reserve. It plays a key role in protecting elephants migrating across the Southern Western Ghats and preserving the region’s rich biodiversity.

Anamalai-Nelliampathy Landscape (TN – Kerala)

Anamalai Elephant Reserve – Tamil Nadu

• • Location: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (TR) has been declared an Elephant Reserve. It is strategically located in Tamil Nadu, contiguous with the Anamudi Elephant Reserve in Kerala.
  • The Anamalai ER is part of a larger conservation area that spans the Western Ghats and plays a critical role in preserving elephant populations and their habitats.

Anamudi Elephant Reserve – Kerala

• • Location: This reserve encompasses significant portions of Nelliampathy Forest, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (TR), and Munnar Wildlife Division in Idukki district, Kerala.
  • It includes Anamudi Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Eravikulam NP, and several other protected areas. These regions are essential to the survival of elephants and many other endangered species in the Western Ghats.

Periyar-Agasthyamalai Landscape (Kerala – Tamil Nadu)

Periyar Elephant Reserve – Kerala

• • Location: Situated in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the South Western Ghats, the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary have been designated as an Elephant Reserve.
  • This reserve plays an integral role in conserving elephant populations, as it forms a critical part of the habitat in this biodiversity hotspot.

Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve – Tamil Nadu

• • Location: The Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) was established to protect the grizzled giant squirrel (NT), and later declared as an Elephant Reserve.
  • This reserve is contiguous with the Periyar Elephant Reserve, forming an important conservation corridor for elephants migrating between the Western Ghats and the plains of Tamil Nadu.

Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve – Tamil Nadu

• • Location: Recently notified, the Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve is part of the Agasthiyamalai Biosphere Reserve (BR).
  • The reserve spans across the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of Kerala. It includes the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (TR).

This reserve is part of the Southern Western Ghats, which is an ecologically sensitive area rich in biodiversity, and it plays a pivotal role in the conservation of elephants and other endangered species.

North-Western Landscape (Uttarakhand – Uttar Pradesh)

Shivalik Elephant Reserve – Uttarakhand

• • Location: Located in the Shivalik Hills of Uttarakhand, the Shivalik Elephant Reserve consists of the Jim Corbett National Park (TR), Rajaji National Park (TR), Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), and other Shivalik forests spanning the Garhwal and Kumaon hills.
  • The reserve is crucial for the protection of elephants in the region, ensuring their movement through the Shivalik foothills and providing safe habitats for elephant populations.

Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve – Uttar Pradesh

• • Location: The Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve includes the Shivalik Forest Division in the Saharanpur and Bijnore districts, which are located adjacent to the Shivalik Hills in Uttarakhand.
  • This reserve will contribute significantly to elephant conservation in Uttar Pradesh and complement the protection efforts in neighboring Uttarakhand.

Terai Elephant Reserve – Uttar Pradesh

• • Recently approved by the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), the Terai Elephant Reserve will be the second such reserve in Uttar Pradesh and the 33rd in India. It will include key protected areas like Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, and Kishanpur and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS).
  • The reserve is crucial for the conservation of elephants and several other species, including tigers, swamp deer, and the one-horned rhinoceros, in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh.