This blog post discusses the conservation efforts in India focusing on Project Lion and Project Elephant, detailing their objectives, implementation strategies, and the challenges faced in protecting these endangered species.
In the ongoing series on environmental conservation by Shankar IAS, we delve into Chapter 16, which focuses on conservation efforts in India. This post will cover two significant initiatives: Project Lion and Project Elephant, highlighting their objectives, implementation strategies, and the challenges they face.
Project Lion was initiated to address the declining population of the Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest of Gujarat. The population of these lions increased from 523 in 2015 to 674 by 2020, indicating a positive trend. However, the project aims to enhance genetic diversity and reduce the risk of extinction by relocating some lions to new habitats.
Since 1995, efforts have been made to identify relocation sites for Asiatic lions. The Supreme Court of India ordered the relocation of lions to Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013. The CSIR Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad sequenced the genome of the Asiatic lions, revealing a lack of genetic diversity compared to other lion populations.
In addition to Kuno Palpur, six new sites have been identified for future relocation:
The Central Government launched the Asiatic Lion Conservation Project from 2018 to 2021, aiming to protect the last free-ranging population of Asiatic lions and their ecosystem. The funding was shared between the central and state governments in a 60:40 ratio.
Launched in February 1992, Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of free-ranging wild elephants across 13 states in India. The project provides financial and technical assistance to states to manage elephant populations and their habitats.
The main objectives of Project Elephant include:
Elephant corridors are narrow strips of land that connect larger habitats, allowing elephants to move between them. In India, there are 88 identified elephant corridors, with 20 in Central India, 14 in Northern and Western Bengal, and 22 in Northeast India. Protecting these corridors is crucial for enhancing the survival and birth rates of elephant populations.
The primary threats to elephant corridors include:
To protect elephant corridors, strategies include:
The MIKE (Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants) program was initiated in South Asia in 2003 to provide information for better management of elephant populations. The program aims to measure trends in illegal hunting and identify factors contributing to these changes.
Conservation efforts like Project Lion and Project Elephant are vital for the survival of these endangered species in India. By addressing habitat loss, promoting genetic diversity, and mitigating human-animal conflicts, these projects aim to ensure a sustainable future for lions and elephants alike. The involvement of local communities and continuous monitoring will be crucial in achieving these conservation goals.
