Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated World Elephant Day on Monday, praising extensive community initiatives focused on elephant conservation. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to providing suitable habitats for elephants to thrive.

In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted the cultural and historical significance of elephants in India and noted the recent increase in their population.

“World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, the elephant is linked to our culture and history, too. And it’s gladdening that over the last few years, their numbers have been on the rise,” PM Modi said.

Indian elephants, a subspecies of Asian elephants, are native to the Indian subcontinent and constitute around 60% of the total Asian elephant population. These highly intelligent animals form complex social structures, with females living in close-knit family groups led by elderly matriarchs, while males tend to live alone.

Unlike their African counterparts, Indian elephants have smaller, more rounded ears and more compact bodies. The IUCN Red List has classified Indian elephants as endangered since 1986, with their population declining by 11% over the past three decades.

India is home to the largest and most stable population of Asian elephants, with the latest census in 2017 recording 29,964 elephants.

World Elephant Day, observed on August 12th, is an international event dedicated to the protection and preservation of elephants. It aims to raise awareness about elephant conservation and promote positive solutions for managing both wild and captive elephants.