NEW DELHI, October 16 2025 – India is home to 22,446 wild elephants, according to the findings of the first-ever nationwide census utilizing DNA-based mark–recapture methodology, a significant scientific milestone in conservation.
The Status of Elephants in India report, released today, establishes a new, scientifically robust baseline for the country’s Asian elephant population. While officials caution that the figures are not comparable to previous estimates due to the change in methodology, the findings highlight severe threats from habitat fragmentation across the major elephant landscapes.
Western Ghats: The Largest, but Most Fragmented
The country’s elephant population is clustered in four distinct regions:
• Western Ghats: Remains the biggest stronghold with 11,934 elephants (53% of the national total). Karnataka leads all states with 6,013 elephants, followed by Tamil Nadu (3,136) and Kerala (2,785).
• North Eastern Hills & Brahmaputra Flood Plains: Harbours the second-largest population at 6,559. Assam is the regional leader with 4,159 elephants.
• Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains: Home to 2,062 individuals, with the majority in Uttarakhand (1,792).
• Central India and Eastern Ghats: Accounts for 1,891 animals, led by Odisha (912).
The report issued a grave warning regarding the Western Ghats, noting that the “once-contiguous elephant population… is rapidly disconnecting” due to escalating human land use. The primary causes include expanding commercial plantations (coffee and tea), invasive plants, farmland fencing, and uncontrolled developmental projects.
Critical Threats Across All Landscapes
Northeast population is scattered in pockets amidst human habitation, tea plantations, and mines. The report identifies electrocution and railway collisions as causing a significant number of elephant fatalities.
Central India Elephant habitats are deteriorating from unmitigated mining and construction of linear infrastructure like highways, prompting long-ranging elephants to venture into human-dominated areas, escalating conflict.
Community Support: The Linchpin for Survival
The census concluded that the “critical aspect to ensure conservation of Asiatic elephants… needs the support of local communities.” The report makes a strong policy recommendation to prioritize the well-being of these communities by urgently devising mechanisms for uniform compensation across all elephant-presence areas.
In the face of increasing human-elephant interface and declining connectivity, the national strategy for elephant conservation must focus on: “Strengthening corridors and connectivity, restoration of habitat, improving protection strategies and mitigation of developmental projects,” the report stated, emphasizing these actions as the immediate necessity for the survival of the “gentle giants.”