Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2021–25

Source: IE

Context: After over a year’s delay, the Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2021–25 results were released in Dehradun by the Union Environment Ministry and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), reporting 22,446 elephants across India.

About Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2021–25:

• What it is? SAIEE is India’s nationwide synchronized census of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) conducted every five years to estimate their population, distribution, and habitat health.

• SAIEE is India’s nationwide synchronized census of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) conducted every five years to estimate their population, distribution, and habitat health.

• Published by: Jointly released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

• Aim: To create a harmonized, data-driven baseline for elephant population monitoring by synchronizing it with the tiger estimation framework to ensure scientific accuracy and comparability.

• Key Results:

• Total Elephant Population: 22,446 individuals across India.

• Regional Distribution:

• Western Ghats: 11,934 elephants – largest cluster in the country. Northeastern Hills & Brahmaputra Plains: 6,559 elephants. Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains: 2,062 elephants. Central India & Eastern Ghats: 1,891 elephants.

• Western Ghats: 11,934 elephants – largest cluster in the country.

• Northeastern Hills & Brahmaputra Plains: 6,559 elephants.

• Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains: 2,062 elephants.

• Central India & Eastern Ghats: 1,891 elephants.

• Top States by Population: Karnataka (6,013), Assam (4,159), Tamil Nadu (3,136), Kerala (2,785), Uttarakhand (1,792).

• Population Trends:

• Decline in Jharkhand (-68%) and Odisha (-54%) due to mining and habitat degradation. Rise in Chhattisgarh (+82.6%) and Madhya Pradesh, attributed to migration from disturbed eastern regions.

• Decline in Jharkhand (-68%) and Odisha (-54%) due to mining and habitat degradation.

• Rise in Chhattisgarh (+82.6%) and Madhya Pradesh, attributed to migration from disturbed eastern regions.

• Significance:

• Provides a new baseline estimate using advanced tiger census methodology (camera trapping, DNA analysis, and sampling). Helps design corridor-based conservation strategies, crucial for reducing human-elephant conflict.

• Provides a new baseline estimate using advanced tiger census methodology (camera trapping, DNA analysis, and sampling).

• Helps design corridor-based conservation strategies, crucial for reducing human-elephant conflict.