NEW DELHI (Oct 14) – India’s wild elephant population has dropped by 18 per cent to an estimated 22,446, according to the country’s first-ever DNA-based count, released on Tuesday.
The All-India Synchronous Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2025 puts the population range between 18,255 and 26,645, with an average estimate of 22,446 — a sharp decline from 27,312 elephants recorded in 2017.
Officials said the new census, conducted using genetic material collected from dung samples across forest divisions, offers a more accurate and non-invasive method of estimating populations compared to traditional visual surveys.
The long-delayed report, launched nearly four years after the survey began in 2021, highlights the impact of habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-elephant conflict on the country’s elephant population. India is home to over 60% of Asia’s wild elephants.
Environment ministry officials said the findings will help improve conservation strategies under Project Elephant, focusing on habitat corridors and conflict mitigation.