Elephant Corridors of India, 2023

Context

An expert has highlighted several inconsistencies in the recently published report on India’s elephant corridors of India by the central government.

Key Findings

1. An increase of 62 ‘corridors’ in the country since 2010, bringing the total to 150 — an increase of 40 per cent.
2. Elephants have expanded their ranges in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and southern Maharashtra bordering Karnataka.

• Their presence has also increased in areas such as Madhya Pradesh within the Sanjay Tiger Reserves and Bandhavgarh, along with expanded ranges in northern Andhra Pradesh, allowing movement from Odisha.

3. The report has classified landscapes and habitats as corridors.

Major Discrepancies Observed
Corridor Definition Inconsistencies	Critics argue that the initial significance of corridors has been diluted, as there is a trend to label any area where elephants move as corridors. This has led to the classification of landscapes and habitats as corridors in the report and the subsequent surge in the number of elephant corridors.
North and Northeast Corridor Discrepancies	West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors, totalling 26, constituting 17% of the total corridors. West Bengal are suitable for elephants due to small forest patches, most regions elephants traverse in South Bengal are dominated by agriculture. Linking these areas to other elephant landscapes, a departure from the original intent of a corridor. Expansive corridors might escalate human-elephant conflicts.
Dangers to Elephants	Critics argue that the expansion of elephant ranges has also led to increased incidents of elephant deaths due to electrocution and falling into wells.

 

Project Elephant Directives on Elephant Corridors

1. In 2005-06, Project Elephant issued directives to states regarding elephant corridors.

1. It stated that corridors in forest areas should adhere to the rules outlined in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. Meanwhile, areas with revenue and private lands were instructed to comply with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as eco-sensitive areas, potentially prohibiting red-category industries

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