Introduction

The Project Elephant, PE in short was launched in February 1992. It is a central sponsored scheme that intended to provide all kinds of support to the elephant bearing states in India, be it financial or technical for protection of elephants and their habitats. Elephants, the gentle giants of the forests are much loved in India and this project was launched when their numbers started decreasing at an alarming rate. The Project Elephant in India also aimed to decrease the human-elephant battles and help in the welfare of domesticated elephants in India.

Aims of Project Elephant

The various aims of Project Elephant are as follows:

	Ecologically restoring the natural habitats and migratory routes of the elephants
	Resolution of the increasing conflicts between man and elephants in important habitats and moderating the pressures of human and domestic stock activities in important elephant habitats.
	Developing scientific and planned management measures for conservation of elephants and controlling the population of wild Asiatic elephants, which are almost on the verge of extinction.
	Protecting the elephants from poachers and other unnatural causes of death and preventing illegal ivory trade is also one of the major concerns of the Elephant Project in India
	Researching on issues related to elephants and creating public awareness and education programs for it.
	Eco-development and Veterinary care for the elephants.
	Project Elephant also aims at maintaining health care and breeding of tame elephants.

The elephant Reserves in India

The elephant reserves in India under project Elephant are

	Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary [Bihar]
	Kameng-Sonitpur [Arunachal & Assam]
	Kaziranga-Karbelong-Intanki [Assam & Nagaland]
	Barail – Saifung [Assam & Meghalaya]
	Nilambur - Silent Valley [Kerala & Tamilnadu]
	Anamalai – Parambikulam
	Periyar-Madurai [Tamil Nadu]
	Rajaji-Corbett[UttarPradesh]

Progress in Project Elephant

Though project elephant was launched with much enthusiasm years ago, but it has still not led to as much increase in the number of elephants as it was expected. Wildlife conservationists state that the progress has been real slow and people in charge of the project are themselves not very clear of the causes of decline in the number of elephants. Project Elephant tries to ensure a free movement for the elephants and thus conserve large areas for them that are called ‘elephant reserve range’.

But there is an optimistic group of conservationists are still hopeful for improvements and better days of these gentle beasts under Project Elephant, India.

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