Why in News

World Elephant Day was celebrated in Coimbatore on August 12, 2025, with a special focus on mitigating human-elephant conflict. Organised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the event highlighted India's conservation efforts as the home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild elephant population.

Theme:

The theme for World Elephant Day 2025 is "Matriarchs & Memories," which honors the wisdom, emotional depth, and resilience of elephant matriarchs.

History of the day:

World Elephant Day was established in 2012 by Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims in collaboration with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand.

·        The core mission is to preserve and protect elephants and their habitats, and to encourage ethical treatment and conservation efforts worldwide.

·        The day also supports community engagement and promotes policies for long-term survival of elephant populations.

About Elephants:

Elephants are the largest land mammals and key ecosystem engineers. They are intelligent, social animals with strong family bonds.
IUCN Status:

·         Asian Elephant: Endangered

·         African Savanna Elephant: Endangered

·         African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered

Traits & Role:
With long trunks, tusks, and massive bodies, elephants shape ecosystems by dispersing seeds, maintaining grasslands, and creating water sources. They reproduce slowly, with a 22-month gestation, and live in matriarchal herds, making every individual critical to population survival.

Protection of Elephants in India:

India is home to nearly 60% of the world's wild elephant population. The protection and conservation of elephants primarily lie with State Governments and UTs, supported by national legislation such as the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927.

·        The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) implements various measures under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme—Project Tiger & Elephant.

·        These include financial and technical assistance for elephant habitat protection, conflict mitigation, and welfare of captive elephants.

·        Key efforts include the notification of 33 Elephant Reserves in 14 states, validation of 150 elephant corridors, and guidelines to manage human-elephant conflict (HEC).

·        Strategies involve early warning systems, rapid response teams, ex-gratia relief (enhanced to ₹10 lakh for human death), and eco-friendly infrastructure planning. Funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 are also used to improve habitats.

Conclusion:

World Elephant Day 2025 serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect elephants and their habitats. With human-elephant conflict on the rise, it is essential to work towards finding sustainable solutions that balance wildlife conservation with human welfare. As India continues to lead the way in elephant conservation, the global community must come together to support these efforts and ensure the long-term survival of these incredible animals.