Elephant corridors

Why in news?

• NGT directs Odisha to submit action plan on strengthening elephant corridors

About elephant corridors:

• Elephant corridors are so important are narrow, linear patches of vegetation form vital natural habitat linkages between larger forest patches.
• They allow elephants to move between secure habitats freely, without being disturbed by humans.
• In many cases, elephant corridors are also critical for other wildlife including India’s endangered National Animal, the Royal Bengal tiger.

India’s elephant Population:

• India has by far the largest number of wild Asian elephants in the world, estimated at 27,312 according to the 2017 census, about 55% of the species’ global population.
• They range in 29 Elephant Reserves spread over 10 elephant landscapes in 14 states, covering about 65,814 sq km of forests in northeast, central, north-west and south India.
• However many Elephant Reserves include areas of human use and habitation outsode protected areas like Reserve Forests or Wild life sanctuaries.
• The ‘home range’ of an elephant herd can vary from an average of about 250 sq km to over 3500 sq km (in the highly degraded, fragmented landscapes) and this increases chances of Human Elephant Conflict.
• Over 400 humans are killed in encounters with elephants annually, and crops and property worth millions of rupees are damaged.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements:
1.Asian elephants are the second largest mammals on land.
2.India has the largest population of wild Asian elephants.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question