World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day, observed on 12 August, underscores India’s role in Asian elephant conservation. The country hosts nearly 60 % of the global wild Asian elephant population, with the Synchronous All‑India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE) 2021‑25 reporting 22,446 wild elephants. Conservation is driven by Project Elephant (MoEFCC), which supports 33 Elephant Reserves, 150 corridors, AI‑enabled monitoring, DNA‑based censuses, and railway mitigation structures that have cut train‑hit elephant deaths from 26 in 2013 to 12 in 2024. Additional measures include the 2023 Management Effectiveness Evaluation framework, Regional Action Plans, the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules 2024, and ex‑gratia assistance for human‑elephant conflict under centrally‑sponsored schemes.