Assam, which harbors one of the largest concentrations of endangered Asian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus), witnessed a promising increase in numbers — from 5,250 in 2002 to 5,830 in 2024. This increment is attributed to more than two decades of stringent conservation efforts by the Assam Forest Department, including protection of habitat, monitoring, and facilitating safe elephant mobility.
The state now harbors elephants in 26 protected reserves, of which five are exclusive reserves. Yet, with their strength and size, increased proximity to humans has resulted in complications such as crop damage and incidental encounters.
To counter this, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is helping Assam with a forest and biodiversity restoration project that focuses on:
- Restoring elephant habitats
- Establishing secure migration routes
- Decreasing human-elephant conflict through mapping, early warnings, and intelligent monitoring
- Arming and educating rangers to fight poaching
This Indo-French initiative aims for a sustainable coexistence in which both the people and elephants can flourish.
Courtesy: Embassy of France Facebook Page.