On the occasion of World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on August 12, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the significance of community efforts in protecting elephants in India. In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi wrote, “World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants.” He further reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of elephants within India. “At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, the elephant is linked to our culture and history, too. And itās gladdening that over the last few years, their numbers have been on the rise,” Modi added.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to X to voice the state’s priority in safeguarding “jumbos in the wild.” He shared a success story of elephant rescue and rehabilitation, highlighting Assam’s dedication to securing their habitats, providing safe passage, and assisting them in challenging times. “Govt of Assam prioritizes safety of our jumbos in the wild. We have taken various steps to secure their habitats, provide safe passage and helping them in testing times. Today, on #WorldElephantDay, sharing one of the recent success stories in elephant rescue & rehabilitationš,” Sarma wrote.
World Elephant Day, established in 2012, aims to raise awareness about the plight of Asian and African elephants in the wild. Notably, India holds approximately 60 percent of the world’s Asian elephant population, with the number of elephant reserves steadily increasing over the years. The 2017 census estimated India’s wild elephant population to be around 27,312 individuals. The country also identifies approximately 138 elephant corridors.
The concept of World Elephant Day originated in 2011, conceived by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canazwest Pictures, and Sivaporn Dardarananda, Secretary-General of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand. Patricia Sims, founder of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, launched the initiative on August 12, 2012. Since then, the awareness day has gained global recognition, celebrated by various organizations and governments. Currently, over 100 wildlife organizations commemorate World Elephant Day.
Estimates suggest a global elephant population of 400,000 in Africa and 40,000 in Asia; however, these figures are often disputed, with many believing the actual numbers to be considerably lower.
