What is the status of this magnificent species in India today?
Raman Sukumar: In terms of numbers the elephant has fortunately managed to hold its ground in India, and even increase by about 40 per cent over the past 25 years. This is contrary to what has been happening in most other Asian countries where elephants have declined during this period; thus the increase in India has offset the decline elsewhere. With about 28,000 or more wild elephants and 3,500 captive elephants, India is home to more than 50 per cent of the population of this species in the world. Numbers however do not convey the full story, as you know. The elephants habitat continues to be under threat in many parts, and the male to female ratio has skewed considerably especially in the south, while makhnas (tuskless males) are gradually replacing tuskers in the northeast. Is there reason for optimism about the rise in the elephant population, when the natural areas of the country are under pressure? Sukumar: You are right. I think we are approaching the saturation point as regar
