The presence of elephants in the forests of Madhya Pradesh is steadily increasing. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, which is renowned across India and the world for its tigers, is now emerging as a favourable habitat for elephants as well. The elephant population here is steadily flourishing.
At present, an estimated 50 to 70 wild elephants are believed to be present in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and its surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, a herd of around 25 elephants has been continuously residing in the western Beohari area of Shahdol district for approximately the past one and a half years.
Regular Presence in Bandhavgarh Since 2018
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Field Director Anupam Sahay said that the regular presence of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was clearly recorded in October 2018. The elephants reached the area from Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve through the Bandhavgarh landscape corridor. Since then, their numbers and range of movement have gradually expanded.
Elephants are primarily seen moving through the Khetauli, Panpatha Core, Tala and Kallwah areas. Elephants do not remain permanently confined to a single area; instead, they move between different regions depending on the availability of food, water and other necessities. This is why it is difficult to determine a permanent number of elephants in any single range, and regular monitoring is carried out.
Food, Water and a Safe Environment Attract Elephants
The extensive natural and protected forest landscape of Bandhavgarh provides favourable conditions for elephants. Depending on the season, the area offers sufficient food and water, grasslands, bamboo forests, sal and mixed forests, along with other natural vegetation.
A safe environment and relatively limited human interference are providing elephants with a favourable habitat here.
The growing presence of elephants has also added a new attraction to wildlife tourism in Bandhavgarh. Herds of elephants moving freely through the forest, the calves accompanying them and their natural social behaviour are creating an exciting experience for tourists.
Technology and Scientific Methods Used for Monitoring
To strengthen elephant conservation and human-elephant coexistence in Bandhavgarh, the management has adopted technology, scientific studies, community participation and regular monitoring.
A special Gajrakshak app is being used to provide information about elephant locations, movements and alerts.
For community participation, Hathi Mitra teams have been formed. In addition, radio-collaring and scientific monitoring are being used to study elephant movements and their range.
Elephants are identified on the basis of distinctive features such as the shape of their ears, marks and spots, tusk structure, tail and other physical characteristics. Each elephant is assigned a unique identification number.
A monitoring system has also been established through an Elephant Control Room for the rapid exchange of elephant-related information and timely action. Frontline staff are periodically provided training and workshops on elephant management.
Efforts are also being made to adopt experiences from other states, particularly West Bengal, in elephant management and human-elephant conflict mitigation, adapting them to local conditions.
A Herd of 25 Elephants Also in the Beohari Area
According to Taruna Verma, DFO of Shahdol North Forest Division, the movement of elephants through the Shahdol region has a long history. In recent years, elephant movement into the Shahdol area was recorded around 2005.
In 2018, a herd of elephants arrived in the area and later established itself permanently in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve region.
At present, a herd of approximately 25 elephants has been residing in the western Beohari area of Shahdol North Forest Division for around one and a half years.
The region offers favourable conditions for elephants. Adequate water in the backwaters of Bansagar, relatively few human settlements, limited human interference and sufficient food in bamboo forests are providing the elephants with a safe and suitable environment.
Madhya Pradesh Becomes a Permanent Elephant Habitat After Nearly 100 Years
According to the Status of Elephants in India 2021–25 report, Madhya Pradesh has a recorded population of 97 wild elephants. The report has been prepared on the basis of the country’s first DNA-based elephant census and was released by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Project Elephant.
Historically, the region of present-day Madhya Pradesh was an important habitat for elephants. Historical references indicate that the area had a large elephant population until the 16th and 17th centuries.
Later, due to hunting, deforestation and increasing human interference, the elephant population in Madhya Pradesh had fallen to zero by 1925.
Now, nearly a century later, elephants have once again begun entering Madhya Pradesh from Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand and establishing themselves in suitable forest habitats.
At present, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve and the Bansagar backwater area of Shahdol are emerging as preferred habitats for elephants.
Focus on Human-Wildlife Coexistence Alongside Elephant Conservation
Elephant conservation is not limited merely to protecting a single species. It is connected with protecting the entire forest, its ecosystem and the coexistence between humans and wildlife.
In Bandhavgarh, efforts are being made to ensure that elephants remain safe in the forest while local communities are also able to move forward safely alongside them through coexistence.
India’s total wild elephant population is reported to be 22,486. Among the states, Karnataka has the highest number of elephants, followed by Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Odisha.
The increasing elephant population in Madhya Pradesh, along with the developing model of human-elephant coexistence, is being viewed as an important achievement in the direction of wildlife conservation.