Landscape Ecology in Elephant Corridors

• 09 Apr 2024

Source: DTE

Why in News?

Recently, landscape ecology has become crucial for identifying and restoring elephant corridors effectively, rather than relying solely on expert field knowledge.

• Landscape ecology is the study of the interactions between the temporal (time-related) and spatial (space-related) aspects of a landscape and the organisms within it.
• Landscape ecology became more accurate with the advancements in detecting core areas and corridors are now based on three factors: intensive use of field data; improvement in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and availability of geospatial data and adapted algorithm.

What are Elephant Corridors?

• About:
  • Elephant corridors are strips of land that enable elephant movement between two or more friendly habitats.
• Status of Elephant Corridors in India:
  • The key findings of the Elephant Corridors of India, 2023 Report are as follows:
    • The report highlighted a surge of 62 new corridors, marking a 40% increase since 2010, now totalling 150 corridors across the nation.
    • West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors, totalling 26, constituting 17% of the total corridors.
    • The East central region contributes 35% (52 corridors), and the North East region follows as the second-largest with 32% (48 corridors).
    • Southern India registered 32 elephant corridors, representing 21% of the total, while northern India has the lowest count of 18 corridors, amounting to 12%.
    • Elephants have expanded their ranges in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and southern Maharashtra bordering Karnataka.

Elephants

• Elephants in India:
  • Elephants are keystone species as well as the Natural Heritage Animal of India.
  • India has the largest number of wild Asian Elephants. The elephant population in the country is estimated to be over 30,000.
  • Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India.
• Conservation Status:
  • Convention of the Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species:
    • Asian Elephant: Endangered
    • African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered
    • African Savanna Elephant: Endangered
• Conservative Efforts:
  • India:
    • Gaj Yatra
    • Project Elephant
  • Global:
    • Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme.
    • World Elephant Day

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Ans: (a)