Gaja Utsav 2023:
President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Gaja Utsav to celebrate 30 years of Project Elephant at Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.During his speech, he said that our country has a unique relationship between nature and culture, where both are intertwined and have been feeding each other. Elephants are highly respected in our tradition, and are considered a symbol of prosperity. As the national heritage animal of India, the protection of elephants is an essential element of our national duty to preserve our national heritage.
Gaja Utsav 2023 is an important festival in India that celebrates the 30th anniversary of Project Elephant, a major conservation initiative launched by the Government of India in 1992. The event aims to promote awareness about the conservation of elephants and their habitats, reduce human-elephant conflict and ensure the welfare of captive elephants.
The event is being celebrated in Kaziranga National Park, which is known for its high population of Asian elephants. The two-day event on April 7 and 8 includes various activities like cultural programmes, elephant processions, exhibitions and seminars. These activities are designed to engage the public and raise awareness of the importance of elephant conservation. The event also highlights the challenges faced by elephants in India due to habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching and human-elephant conflict.
Through Gaja Utsav 2023, the Government of India aims to work towards mitigating these challenges and ensuring a better future for elephants in India.
Elephant population
- There are approximately 50,000 - 60000 Asian elephants in the world.
- India has the largest population of wild Asian elephants, with an estimated 29,964 according to a 2017 census by Project Elephant, i.e. about 60% of the global population of the species.
- There are 33 Elephant Reserves (ERs) in India. Lemru ER (Chhattisgarh), Agasthyamalai ER (Tamil Nadu) and Terai ER (Uttar Pradesh) were notified in 2022.
Kaziranga Garden
- Kaziranga National Park was established in 1905 and is one of the oldest national parks in India. The park covers an area of about 430 square kilometers and is home to the world's largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
- Kaziranga is also home to other rare and endangered species such as the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.
- The park is located in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River and is a unique ecosystem consisting of grasslands, swamps and forests.
- Kaziranga is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a Tiger Reserve and an Important Bird Area.
- The park is a popular tourist destination and offers activities such as wildlife safaris, elephant rides and birdwatching.
- Kaziranga National Park faces various challenges such as habitat loss, poaching and human-elephant conflict, which require continued attention and conservation efforts.