Gondia, Gadchiroli to host Maha’s 1st elephant reserve

Source: The post is based on the article “Gondia, Gadchiroli to host Maha’s 1st elephant reserve”  published in TOI on 22nd August 2023,

What is the News?

The Maharashtra state wildlife department has proposed creating the Navegaon Elephant Reserve in an area in Gondia and Gadchiroli districts.

This move aims to conserve wild elephants in the region, where around 23-25 elephants have been residing.

What is the significance of this proposal?

At present, there are 33 elephant reserves in the country. If approved, Navegaon Elephant Reserve  could become the 34th elephant reserve in India and the 5th largest in terms of area.

Elephant Conservation in India:

Elephant has been recognised as a national heritage animal of India.

India has the largest population of Asian elephants with nearly 30,000 wild and about 3,600 captive ones.

Government of India had launched Project Elephant in 1991-92. The project was intended to provide financial and technical support to the elephant range states for the protection of elephants, their habitats, and corridors and address the issue of human-animal conflict. It also sought to promote the welfare of captive elephants.

IUCN Red List: Endangered 

CITES: Appendix I

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Concerns: According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) 1972, a ‘protected area’ can be one of a ‘national park’, a ‘wildlife sanctuary’, a ‘conservation reserve’ or a ‘community reserve’.

– Hence, in the eyes of the law, an elephant reserve is no different from forest land or revenue land. 

– The activities that are prohibited in protected areas – including mining, oil- and gas-drilling, dams, etc. – are permissible in an elephant reserve.