Supreme Court bars States from blocking elephant corridors, orders national survey
2-minute summary
The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, has directed the Union government to conduct a nationwide survey to identify and clear all obstructions from traditional elephant corridors. The three-judge Bench ruled that individual states cannot block these ancient migratory pathways, emphasizing that blockading corridors is not a viable solution to human-animal conflict. Elephants naturally travel across state boundaries (such as from West Bengal to Jharkhand, or Haryana to Uttarakhand), making their pathways trans-boundary rather than state-specific. Furthermore, the court strictly prohibited the use of cruel and barbaric deterrents—such as fireballs, burning torches (mashaals), and spikes—historically used by 'hula' parties to drive elephants away from crops and villages, reiterating a ban first ordered in 2018. The Union government has agreed to conduct the survey and submit a comprehensive status report on the progress within eight weeks.
Why it's in the news
The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to conduct a national survey to clear obstructions from traditional elephant corridors and enforce a strict ban on the use of fireballs and spikes to deter wildlife.
Background and context
Elephant corridors are narrow strips of land that allow wild elephants to migrate between secure habitats. India holds over 60% of the global population of wild Asian elephants. However, rapid urbanization, infrastructure projects (like highways and railways), and agricultural expansion have severely fragmented these traditional pathways. This fragmentation forces elephants into human-dominated landscapes, leading to escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC), resulting in crop damage, loss of human lives, and retaliatory animal killings. Historically, the Supreme Court has intervened to protect these corridors, notably in the landmark Segur Elephant Corridor case, where it upheld the Tamil Nadu government's authority to establish a corridor and dismantle illegal resorts. The latest 2026 directive addresses the persistent use of illegal, cruel deterrents like fireballs and spikes, particularly in West Bengal, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing infrastructure development with ecological connectivity.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 48A — Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) directing the State to endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- Article 51A(g) — Fundamental Duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
Committees and reports
- Elephant Task Force Report (Gajah Report) — Recommended the establishment of a National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA) and emphasized securing elephant corridors to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
Government schemes
- Project Elephant — Launched in 1992 to provide financial and technical support to wildlife management efforts by states for wild Asian Elephants, their habitats, and their corridors.
International organisations
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) — Lists the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) as 'Endangered' on its Red List of Threatened Species.
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) — Lists the Asian Elephant under Appendix I, which offers the highest level of protection against international commercial trade.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Prelims GS-1 2020 — With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements : 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months only. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Mains practice: Examine the factors contributing to the fragmentation of elephant corridors in India and discuss the legal and administrative measures required to ensure their protection.
Elephants are keystone species and India's National Heritage Animals. Their survival depends on contiguous forest habitats connected by corridors. However, rapid developmental pressures have severely fragmented these pathways, leading to escalating human-elephant conflicts (HEC).
• **Factors contributing to fragmentation**:
- **Linear Infrastructure**: Construction of highways, railway lines, and power transmission lines cutting through pristine forests (e.g., Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway).
- **Agricultural Expansion and Encroachments**: Conversion of forest fringes into agricultural land, leading to crop-raiding and retaliatory measures by farmers.
- **Unplanned Urbanization**: Proliferation of commercial resorts, industries, and human settlements directly inside traditional migratory corridors.
• **Legal and Administrative Measures Required**:
- **Statutory Recognition**: Formally notify elephant corridors under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to grant them statutory protection against developmental diversions.
- **National Survey and Monitoring**: Implement the Supreme Court's directive for a nationwide survey to identify and clear illegal blockades and encroachments.
- **Humane Conflict Management**: Strictly enforce the ban on cruel deterrents (fireballs, spikes, 'hula' parties) and adopt scientific methods like bio-fencing (beekeeping), early warning systems, and rapid response teams.
- **Inter-State Coordination**: Establish institutional mechanisms for seamless coordination between states, as elephant migration is trans-boundary.
In conclusion, protecting elephant corridors is not just an ecological necessity but a constitutional duty under Article 48A and 51A(g). A landscape-level conservation approach, combining community participation with strict legal enforcement, is vital to secure the 'right of passage' for India's elephants.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. With reference to the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in India, consider the following statements: 1. It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. It is classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. 3. Project Elephant was launched in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. All three statements are correct. The Asian Elephant is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides absolute legal protection. It is classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. Project Elephant was launched in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to protect elephants, their habitats, and corridors.
Q2. Which of the following best describes the term 'Elephant Corridor'?
- A legal zone where human entry is completely prohibited under the Forest Conservation Act.
- An artificial pathway constructed in urban areas to prevent human-animal conflict.
- A narrow strip of land that facilitates the movement of elephants between two larger secure habitats.
- A designated national park exclusively reserved for elephant breeding.
Answer: C. An elephant corridor is a narrow strip of land that acts as a conduit, allowing elephants to move from one habitat patch to another. Securing these corridors is vital for maintaining genetic flow and reducing human-animal conflict.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the legal protection of wildlife corridors in India: 1. The Supreme Court has banned the use of fireballs, spikes, and burning rods to drive away wild elephants. 2. State governments have the absolute authority to block traditional wildlife corridors if they cause crop damage. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct; the Supreme Court banned these barbaric methods in 2018 and reiterated it in 2026. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Supreme Court explicitly ruled that no State can block traditional routes of elephants, and crop damage is not a valid justification for creating obstacles in wildlife corridors.
Revision flashcards
- What is the legal status of the Asian Elephant under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972? Schedule I, which provides the highest level of legal protection and mandates absolute penalties for offenses.
- Which landmark project was launched by the Indian Government in 1992 for elephant conservation? Project Elephant, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to protect elephants, their habitats, and corridors.
- What is the IUCN Red List conservation status of the Asian Elephant? Endangered.
- What cruel practices did the Supreme Court ban for driving away elephants? The use of fireballs, burning torches (mashaals), spikes, and burning rods by 'hula' parties.
- Which constitutional provisions direct the protection of wildlife in India? Article 48A (DPSP - State's duty to protect wildlife) and Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty of citizens to protect wildlife and have compassion for living creatures).