The latest elephant census in Tamil Nadu has revealed a heartening increase in the wild elephant population. According to the third integrated elephant census conducted in 2025, the state is now home to 3,170 elephants. This significant rise is a testament to the dedicated efforts by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department in elephant conservation, highlighting the state’s leading role in protecting these magnificent creatures across India.
The report was released by the Minister for Forests and Cuckoo, R.S. Rajakannappan, at the Secretariat as part of the Wildlife Week celebrations. The new count shows an increase of 107 elephants compared to the previous census, which recorded 3,063 elephants. This stable growth reflects a successful blend of scientific approaches, traditional knowledge, and community involvement in conservation efforts.
“The steady growth in Tamil Nadu’s elephant numbers is a reflection of our commitment, driven by science-based wildlife management and community participation,” stated Minister R.S. Rajakannappan. He further elaborated on the department’s comprehensive and people-centric approach, which includes restoring degraded forests, strengthening elephant corridors, and using technology to prevent human-elephant conflict.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests Department, emphasised that elephants are an integral part of the state’s forests and cultural heritage. “The continuous increase in their numbers is a strong indicator that our policies are yielding results,” she said. She highlighted the focus on habitat restoration, removal of invasive alien species, improving fodder and water management, and employing technology for monitoring elephant movements.
Tamil Nadu has been proactive in expanding elephant habitats. The state has declared the Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve and has also established the extended areas of Thanthai Periyar and Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuaries as elephant reserves. This expansion covers over 2.8 lakh hectares of elephant habitat, underscoring the state’s commitment to their protection.
The integrated census, conducted between May 23rd and 25th, 2025, was a collaborative effort with Karnataka to ensure consistent data across landscapes shared by elephants. In Tamil Nadu, the census covered 26 forest divisions, including tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, forest ranges, and a national park. A total of 2,043 forest staff and volunteers participated in the exercise.
Three standard methods were employed: ‘Block Count’, ‘Line-transect (dung count)’, and ‘Waterhole count’. The analysis, based on 681 sample plots covering 3,261 square kilometres, estimated an elephant density of 0.35 per square kilometre. Adult elephants constituted 44% of the total population. The male-to-female ratio was recorded as 1:1.77, and the adult female-to-calf ratio was 1:0.50. Herd sizes ranged from 3 to 16 elephants.
The highest elephant density was reported in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, with 1.35 elephants per square kilometre, followed by the Gudalur Forest Division and the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The report underscores the value of continuous, integrated monitoring across South India. It also stresses the importance of continued investment in restoring elephant corridors, mitigating conflict, and fostering community partnerships to ensure the future of wild elephants in Tamil Nadu.