Current Population Status of Asian Elephant in Keonjhar Wildlife Division, Odisha

Abstract

The Population of Wild elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) is declining worldwide; therefore understanding the dynamics of the remaining population is critical for effective conservation. We monitored the population and distribution of elephants in Keonjhar wildlife division during 2015 and 2017. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is facing a severe threat to its survival from large scale habitat losing and degradation, negative interaction between human and elephant and poaching across its range. India holds by far the largest number of wild Asian elephants, estimate as about 60% population of the species. <i>Elephas</i> <i>maximus</i> is placed in schedule 1 and part 1 of Indian wildlife protection Act (1972) conferring the highest level of protection. Most of the sightings were recorded near water bodies, foot paths & salt licks. During census period 2017 total 49 elephants were sighted out of which 25 were in Hadgarh, 15 in Deogaon, 9 in Brahmanipal Range. Simillarly in 2015 total 51 elephants were counts out of which 25 were in hadgarh, 16 in Dogaon, 9 in Brahmanipal Range It was found that in 2017 population of adult cow was high (43%) followed by calf (21%), adult bull (16%), sub adult cow (6%) and juvenile (4%). Simillarly in 2015 population of adult cow was high (33.33%) followed by sub-adult cow (19.60%), calf (17.64%), adult bull (13.72%), sub-adult bull (11.76%), adult/sub-adult U/K (1.96%) and juvenile (1.96%).