India’s Supreme Court has ordered states to take stronger measures to protect wild elephants as habitat loss and human-elephant conflict continue to threaten the animals.
The elephant protection order requires states to prevent obstructions along elephant corridors. These routes allow herds to move between habitats that are increasingly shrinking.
The court also ordered authorities to survey the corridors and identify existing barriers.
Officials must also take steps to stop practices that disrupt the natural movement of elephants.
Court bans ‘hulla parties’
The Supreme Court ordered a ban on “hulla parties”, groups that chase elephants away from populated areas.
These groups reportedly use fireballs and burning stakes to drive the animals away.
Wildlife conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra welcomed the ruling.
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Bindra led a public interest case that challenged what she described as cruel practices used by some state authorities.
She said large groups sometimes chase elephants with burning spears.
According to Bindra, such actions do not resolve human-elephant conflict. Instead, they can make the situation worse.
Elephant habitats face growing pressure
India hosts the world’s largest population of Asian elephants.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as endangered.
Highways and railways increasingly divide elephant habitats. Mining operations have also reduced available space for the animals.
The World Wildlife Fund estimates that fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild.
Most of the population lives in India, while other herds live in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
Conservationists welcome court order
India protects elephants under national wildlife laws and recognises them as a national heritage animal.
Many followers of the Hindu deity Ganesh also consider elephants sacred.
Despite their cultural and legal importance, elephants face growing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.
Human-elephant conflict has also increased as people and wildlife increasingly share limited land.
Bindra said authorities already know the locations of many elephant corridors and habitats.
She warned that development projects continue to destroy and fragment those areas at a rapid pace.
She said the Supreme Court’s order could help turn conservation commitments into practical action.
The court’s directions now require state governments to identify barriers and take steps to keep elephant corridors open.
