Press Release Statement of Hon'ble Minister for Forests Thiru R.V. Ranjithkumar on the occasion of World Elephant Day Let Us Protect Elephants, Their Habitats and Our Forests World Elephant Day is observed worldwide on 12th August each year to highlight the importance of elephant conservation and the need to protect their natural habitats. Under the guidance of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Government of Tamil Nadu have been giving sustained priority to the conservation of elephants, protection and improvement of their habitats, and mitigation of human-elephant conflict. On this occasion, the State reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the long-term conservation of elephants and promoting harmonious coexistence between people and elephants. Elephants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and health of our forests. As wide-ranging animals, they disperse seeds over long distances, facilitate the regeneration of vegetation, create pathways through natural forests and influence the structure and composition of forest ecosystems. Owing to these important ecological functions, elephants are rightly described as "Ecological Engineers." Therefore, conserving elephants does not mean protecting a single species alone; it also means conserving the forests, water resources, natural habitats and the rich biodiversity that depend upon the same ecosystem. Elephants are deeply embedded in Tamil Nadu's culture, literature, history, and natural heritage. Tamil texts refer to elephants by various names, such as Yaanai, Vezham, Kaliru, Pidi, Kari, Kunjaram, and Vaaranam. Throughout Sangam and later Tamil literature, elephants symbolize strength, prosperity, and bravery. For example, a poet equates a king's battlefield with a beautiful, fertile forest dense with powerful male elephants (warriors). This reflects the understanding, even several centuries ago, that elephants and healthy forests are inseparably linked. The relationship between the people of Tamil Nadu, forests, and elephants is therefore not merely ecological, but also deeply rooted in our cultural heritage. Tamil Nadu is one of the important elephant-range States in the country. The extensive elephant habitats of the Western and Eastern Ghats are connected with adjoining forest landscapes in Karnataka and Kerala, together forming one of the largest contiguous natural landscapes available for the long-term survival and movement of Asian elephants. According to the latest synchronized elephant population estimation, Tamil Nadu has an estimated 3,170 wild elephants. The State also has five notified Elephant Reserves covering more than 9.1 lakh hectares, including the Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, one of the major elephant landscapes in the country. Tamil Nadu also has a century-old tradition of managing elephants in established elephant camps. Elephants maintained in these camps are cared for and managed based on scientific principles and standardized management practices. Trained Kumki elephants from these camps play an important role in mitigating human-elephant conflict, particularly by assisting the Forest Department in safely guiding wild elephants that enter human habitations and agricultural areas back to suitable forest habitats. However, changing land-use patterns, expansion of habitations along forest boundaries, fragmentation of habitats and various developmental and linear infrastructure interventions have increased the frequency of negative interactions between people and elephants. Human-elephant conflict has consequently emerged as a major conservation and social challenge, not only in Tamil Nadu but in many elephant-range States across the country. Recognising these challenges, and under the guidance of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the commitment of the Government was reiterated in the Governor's Address to the Legislative Assembly in 2026, which emphasised the Government's resolve to enhance forest and green cover and to conserve and restore the State's important natural ecosystems. In furtherance of this commitment, concerted efforts are being made to protect and improve elephant habitats by improving natural grass and fodder availability, augmenting water resources, restoring degraded forests, removing and controlling invasive alien plant species, undertaking soil and moisture conservation works and improving the overall ecological quality of elephant habitats. Special priority is also being given to identifying, securing and conserving traditional elephant corridors for their free passage. Considering the increasing incidence of human-wildlife conflict, the Government have allocated Rs.20 crore during the current year for integrated human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures. Under this initiative, existing barriers such as elephant-proof trenches and solar-powered fences will be maintained, strengthened and improved wherever required. Appropriate barriers will also be formed in vulnerable locations, and additional manpower will be deployed to patrol and safely drive elephants back from human habitations and agricultural lands. Modern technology will increasingly complement these field-level measures. Artificial Intelligence-based monitoring and early-warning systems will be used and expanded in vulnerable areas to detect elephant movement and provide timely alerts to local communities and Forest Department personnel. Such systems can facilitate quicker responses and help prevent human casualties, crop damage and damage to property. Preventing avoidable elephant deaths is equally important. Particular attention is being given to deaths caused by electrocution. The Forest Department is working in coordination with the concerned departments to identify and rectify low-hanging and sagging electrical lines and other electrical infrastructure. At the same time, farmers and landowners must ensure that electricity is not illegally connected to fences around agricultural lands. Illegal energizing of fences poses an extremely serious threat to elephants and other wildlife and must be completely avoided. Elephant conservation cannot be achieved by the Government and the Forest Department alone. It requires the active participation of every citizen, particularly local youth, farmers and communities living in and around elephant habitats. Whenever elephants enter agricultural fields or human habitations, the public should immediately inform the Forest Department and cooperate with field personnel. Coordinated action between local communities and the Forest Department can substantially reduce the risk of human casualties, crop and property damage, as well as injury or death of elephants. A forest in which elephants can move safely and freely is a healthy forest. Healthy forests, in turn, provide us with clean air, water, fertile soil, rich biodiversity and resilience against the impacts of climate change. Protecting elephants is therefore directly linked to protecting the ecological security and well-being of present and future generations. On this World Elephant Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to protect elephants, conserve and restore their natural habitats and traditional corridors, safeguard our forests, and work together with the Forest Department to promote peaceful coexistence between people and elephants. Protecting elephants is protecting our forests. Protecting our forests is protecting our future generations. Issued by: DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai-9