Elephant population down by 10 per cent in Uttarakhand

The number of elephants has gone down by 10 per cent in Uttarakhand, according to the latest census conducted by the state Forest Department. The number has come down to 1,346 from 1,510 in 2005 and 1,582 in 2003.

The census report presented to the state Government highlights a decrease in most forest divisions, particularly Hardwar district, which once had a substantial number of tuskers. This year only 31 elephants have been sighted here compared to 130 in 2005. 8220;The decrease in the number of elephants is not alarming but we need to be careful,8221; Shrikant Chandola, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, said. Moreover, he said that elephants are highly mobile and travel large areas in search of food.