Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: India once again reaffirmed its global leadership in elephant conservation on the occasion of World Elephant Day 2025, with Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Kirti Vardhan Singh, highlighting the country’s unwavering commitment to the protection of its National Heritage Animal.
Addressing the gathering in Coimbatore, the Minister stated that India, home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild elephants, is setting global benchmarks by merging advanced technologies like AI, remote sensing, and geospatial mapping with traditional conservation knowledge.
“India’s commitment to elephant conservation is not just a policy choice, but a reflection of our civilizational ethos,” Shri Singh said, underlining the nation’s holistic, culturally rooted approach to wildlife conservation.
33 Elephant Reserves and 150 Corridors Under Protection
Mr Singh emphasized that with 33 designated Elephant Reserves, 150 scientifically identified corridors, and a robust legal and institutional framework, India stands as a global model for elephant conservation. The Minister stressed the importance of community participation, cross-sectoral collaboration, and scientific planning in reducing human-elephant conflict and enhancing habitat protection.
Elephants: Living Symbols of India’s Culture and Spirituality
In his address, the Minister reflected on India’s deep cultural reverence for elephants – from ancient Bhimbetka cave paintings to their role in temple rituals and as the symbolic form of Lord Ganesha. Elephants, he said, represent strength, wisdom, and prosperity, making their conservation a matter of spiritual and cultural continuity.
Hon’ble MoS Shri @KVSinghMPGonda, along with senior officials, marked #WorldElephantDay2025 by releasing key publications, including Guidelines for Captive Elephant Care, The Last Elephant, The Soul Tree, and a Coffee Table Book on Mudumalai Elephant Camp. On the occasion, Gaj… pic.twitter.com/Vz5286P9dh
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) August 12, 2025
Gaj Gaurav Awards: Honoring India’s Elephant Protectors
As part of the national celebrations, the Gaj Gaurav Awards 2025 were conferred to forest frontline workers and mahouts for their remarkable contributions to elephant conservation:
- Arunachal Pradesh: Mr Ganesh Tamang (Mahout), Shri Sumit Gogoi (Elephant Attendant)
- Madhya Pradesh: Mr Kesu Singh Walke, Shri Sahadan Ram Lakada (Assistant Mahouts)
- Tamil Nadu: Mr M. Murali (Anti-Poaching Watcher), Shri S. Karthikeyan (Forest Guard)
- Uttar Pradesh: Mr Irshad Ali (Mahout)
These awards recognize the often-overlooked but crucial role played by ground-level conservation workers in ensuring elephant safety and welfare.
Nation-Wide Student Campaign Engages 12 Lakh Youth
A massive nationwide awareness campaign was launched involving approximately 12 lakh students from 5,000 schools to educate the younger generation on the importance of elephants in India’s ecosystem and heritage. The campaign focused on fostering values of coexistence and respect for wildlife.
New Guide Released on Elephant Foot Care
A new handbook titled “Healthy Feet, Healthy Elephants: A Guide to Foot Care in Captive Asian Elephants” was released during the event. The document provides practical recommendations to improve foot hygiene, preventive care, and diagnosis techniques, and aims to build the capacity of caregivers and mahouts managing captive elephants.
Workshop on Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) Mitigation
A dedicated workshop on Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) was held, bringing together forest officials, scientists, and policy experts from elephant range states. The workshop focused on:
- Habitat restoration and corridor protection
- Community engagement models
- Best practices in conflict resolution
- Technological solutions and early warning systems
These initiatives align with the objectives of Project Elephant, launched in 1992, which promotes a participatory and science-based approach to elephant conservation.
Coimbatore at the Center of National Celebrations
Hosting the national-level event, Coimbatore – known for its rich biodiversity and elephant corridors – served as the perfect backdrop for this year’s World Elephant Day celebrations. Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Ministry of Railways, and wildlife conservation bodies were present at the event, alongside civil society and academic representatives.
India’s Conservation Vision Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
The event was organized under the larger umbrella of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating India’s 75+ years of independence and reaffirming its commitment to environmental stewardship, ecological balance, and protection of iconic species like the elephant.
