Context:
India’s first-ever DNA-based elephant census, the All-India Synchronous Elephant Estimation (AISEE) 2025, has reported a decline in the wild elephant population compared to 2017 figures.
Key Highlights / Details:
- Population Estimate:
- The 2025 estimation places India’s wild elephant population between 18,255 and 26,645, with an average of 22,446 elephants.
- This represents an 18% drop from the 2017 figure of 27,312 elephants.
- New Methodology:
- This is India’s first DNA-based elephant census, marking a major shift from traditional visual and dung-count methods to genetic identification for higher accuracy.
- Purpose and Significance:
- The move to DNA-based enumeration helps avoid duplication, ensures reliability, and aids in better conservation planning.
- The synchronized survey covered elephant habitats across states, ensuring uniform data collection standards.
- Possible Reasons for Decline:
- Habitat fragmentation, human–elephant conflict, poaching, and climate-related stress are potential contributing factors (to be examined further in detailed reports).
Relevant Prelims Points:
- India hosts the largest population of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
- Asian elephant is listed as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
- It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- India observes World Elephant Day on August 12 to raise awareness on conservation.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Wildlife Conservation: Need for data-driven conservation strategies and improved habitat corridors.
- Science & Technology in Conservation: Use of DNA profiling to enhance accuracy and accountability in wildlife censuses.
- Human–Wildlife Conflict: Managing ecological balance while reducing conflict incidents.