Surging Splendor: The Remarkable Rise in Elephant Population in India's Bountiful Wilderness

10 Aug, (VNI) The recent unveiling of the elephant census results has been made known by Eshwar Khandre, the esteemed minister overseeing the realms of state forests and the environment. Karnataka's lush landscapes have witnessed a commendable surge in the wild elephant populace, now numbering an impressive 6,395 majestic beings. This uptick is a notable departure from the count of 6,049 recorded back in the year 2017. The curtains of the state forest department's latest elephant census report have been drawn by Minister Eshwar Khandre himself, casting light on these intriguing revelations.

A decade prior, the numerical projection stood at an unassuming 5,740. Time's tide, however, elevated this figure to a more robust 6,072 by the year 2012, only to experience a slight ebb in 2017.

The orchestration of this census endeavor unfolded in harmonious collaboration with the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa. The period spanning from May 17 to 19 witnessed concerted efforts where diverse methodologies, both direct and indirect, were adroitly employed.

At the nucleus of this census undertaking lay a dual-pronged purpose. Initially, it aimed to muster estimations regarding the populace of wild elephants, harnessing the might of both direct and indirect stratagems, a mirror to the methods adopted in the antecedent 2017 assessment. Subsequently, this census strived for a meticulous juxtaposition of population patterns, encompassing variables like age-sex amalgamation and the delicate ratios of the sexes. These insights were deftly procured from direct sightings that graced regions boasting heightened visibility within sundry forest divisions. It's pertinent to underline that Karnataka has steadfastly adhered to these methodologies since the advent of the year 2002, as eloquently echoed within the report.

Contemporary times have borne witness to a redistribution of the pachyderm populace. Within the annals of 32 forest divisions, elephants now hold court, a marginal decline from the earlier count of 34 recorded in 2017. The venerated divisions of Tumkur and Bengaluru rural, by virtue of their elephant-free status, stood excluded from the survey's purview. Among these 32 bastions of woodland, elephants graced 23 with their stately presence, encompassing a sprawling expanse that blankets approximately 49,773 square kilometers. This exhaustive enumeration spanned a concise three-day window.

Steering this intricate effort towards fruition was the technical support extended by the erudite minds at the Indian Institute of Science, ensconced within the embrace of Bengaluru's vibrant surroundings.