India: 10% of India's 150 elephant corridors now non-existent

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/10-of-indias-150-elephant-corridors-now-non-existent-panel/articleshowprint/126400011.cms



Jan 8, 2026
10% of India’s 150 elephant corridors now non-existent: Panel

Bengaluru: Sounding alarm over the rapid disappearance of elephant corridors across the country, the Supreme Court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) has found that nearly 10% of the 150 identified corridors in India have effectively become "non-existent." In its field inspection report submitted to the Supreme Court on Jan 5, following a visit to Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) in Bengaluru, the panel assessed the inclusion of elephant corridors and adjoining forest patches within the park's eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The committee noted that several corridors are no longer functional and urgently need restoration to ensure safe elephant movement.

The committee warned that infrastructure development had emerged as the single biggest threat to elephant corridors nationwide and called for the integration of wildlife conservation planning into energy, transport and other linear infrastructure projects. Citing the Elephant Corridors of India 2023 report, published by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) and Project Elephant, the panel noted that elephant usage had increased in nearly 40% of the corridors, indicating rising dependence on these pathways for movement. However, the report also highlighted that elephant movement had sharply declined in 29 corridors, accounting for 19% of the total, while usage remained stable in another 19%.

The committee noted that such corridors are crucial for maintaining long-term demographic and genetic viability of elephant populations. The report also pointed to successful restoration efforts in impaired corridors across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Kerala and Odisha as evidence that revival is possible with focused intervention.

https://www.planetcustodian.com/west-bengal-becomes-human-elephant-conflict-zone/15592/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/13/search-elephant-people-killed-india-jharkand