India Reaffirms Commitment to Elephant Conservation on World Elephant Day 2026

On World Elephant Day 2026, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav reaffirmed India’s commitment to elephant conservation, citing that the country has 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 States and 150 scientifically validated elephant corridors. He highlighted advanced population monitoring and stronger measures to mitigate human‑elephant conflict, stating that securing elephants secures forests, biodiversity and ecological heritage. Union MoS Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that nearly 60 % of the world’s wild Asian elephants reside in India, underscoring their role as ecosystem engineers and symbols of ecological heritage.