Help Save Elephants in India

Greeting to you from Wildlife Trust of India,

Hope you are doing well!

This email comprises an update on our project ‘Help Save Elephants in India’. Along the updates, we send to you our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and for your trust in the work we do to protect elephants. It is through such acts of kindness that we are able to implement our conservation initiatives and work towards saving India’s national heritage animal – the Asian Elephant.

Large, nomadic animals such as elephants need vast areas to roam and forage. And while they do so, elephant herds re-construct and maintain the forest ecosystem. This is the way of nature and a crucial part of this equilibrium are ‘elephant corridors’. These are narrow, vertical strips of forest land that connect an otherwise fragmented elephant habitat. Elephant families have used these corridors for ages to migrate to and access larger areas. The knowledge is passed on from one generation to another.

As these critical linkages are destroyed, elephants inevitably venture into human habitations, leading to conflict. This is why it is so important to protect corridors.

At WTI, we have identified and are working to protect 101 elephant corridors across India as a part of our project titled ‘Right of Passage’. One of the ways is to identify and institutionalise community-based organisations or individuals who monitor and maintain ‘corridor’ functionality. They liaise with the state and central government and work with the local community to ensure that no corridor is further impaired.

Nature’s buddy is one such organisation working with WTI in Uttarakhand, India. This young, promising organisation is being guided by us to monitor two critical corridors – Barkote Motichur and Kansaru Barkote – in Rajaji National Park area. The team is ensuring safe passage for elephants through the two corridors as well as the underpass constructed to circumvent the National Highway 7, which cuts right between these corridors. The underpass construction was previously lobbied for by WTI and other NGOs. The team is actively mitigating all existing and potential threats to elephant movement by lobbying with the decision making bodies such as the forest department, Uttarakhand Power Corporation, Gas Authority of India Ltd., and the village heads.

As a result, all construction debris on the corridor was cleaned up and the low-hanging electricity cables were removed in the reporting period.

In addition, the team conducted awareness activities to engage local community, children and youth through street plays, art competitions in schools and colleges and waste management drives. These programs focus on educating the target audience on the importance of elephant corridors and help maintain a positive perception of people towards these gentle giants. At the crux of these efforts is the idea of co-existence that will benefit both humans and elephants.

While our team is working hard to provide safe passage to elephants in India, we, once again, thank you for funding the initiative.

Warm regards,

Team WTI