Elephants in India: A Comprehensive Zoological Study Based on Distribution, Captivity, Conservation and Protection

Abstract

India harbors the largest population of wild Asian elephants, estimated at approximately 26,000 to 28,000 individuals, which constitutes nearly 60% of the species' global population. Elephas maximus is classified under Schedule I and Part I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972), granting it the highest level of legal protection. The elephant holds significant cultural and mythological importance in India's heritage, alongside historical roles in the economy and military, fostering strong public support for its conservation and survival. However, the challenges posed by a burgeoning human population, rapid economic growth, expanding and migrating elephant populations at regional levels, habitat loss and fragmentation, and escalating human-elephant conflicts underscore the critical need for effective long-term policies to manage and safeguard this species.