The country is set to take the lead in hosting the International Elephant Congress and Ministerial Meet E-50:50 in November this year. This first ever jumbo event will bring on board experts from the 50 range countries in the world, from Africa and Asia.
As a precursor to this, an online programme by Wildlife Trust of India- International Fund For Animal Welfare has been launched to make people participative of the complicated issues of the ivory trade and loss of elephants.
Stressing on the role of India, Director Project Elephant AM Singh, pointed out that it is still the pioneering elephant home range countries in Asia with about 30,000 in the wild. The other Asian countries have already lost majority of its population with China around 200, Taiwan about 150. With India having nearly 85 per cent of Asian elephants, it is time to take stock of the situation, before it is too late, he added. This will be the first ever conference of its kind after the same had been constituted for tigers.
Further, 37 African nations will also participate in this meet, to be held under the aegis of the Environment Ministry. “These countries have already constituted the “African Elephant fund” and have strategies in place for the conservation. “One of the major challenges faced by African elephants is poaching, which is even more than in India”, he pointed out. Hence, the forum is expected to provide a good platform for exchange of information, between the various elephant range countries in the world.
The meeting would deliberate on various facets of elephant Science including population estimation, distribution, ranging pattern, habitats and foraging ecology, social organisation and behaviour, communication, population genetics and elephant human interactions. Elephant management and conservation, population management, protection, human elephant conflict management and Elephant: Culture and Ethics etc are the other expected issues.
Meanwhile, the interactive online exercise to spread awareness on rising ivory trade and elephant loss is also picking up. Called the “Unveiling the Ivory Trade”, this multi-media, interactive programme addresses the complicated issues of the ivory trade and reaches out to the people for instant communication. “If we are going to stop elephants being slaughtered for their ivory, then we have to find appealing ways to get that message across,” said Jason Bell, IFAW Director, Elephant Programme.