World Elephant Day to be celebrated in Coimbatore on August 12

Mitigation of human-elephant conflict will be the focus of World Elephant Day celebrations to be held in Coimbatore on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Minister for MoEF&CC Bhupender Yadav will preside over the celebrations, which is organised in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. A press release said 33 elephant reserves and 150 elephant corridors reflected the strong protection framework for elephants in India, which was home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild elephant population.

“With robust legal protection, strong institutional frameworks, and widespread public support, the country is recognised worldwide as a leader in reconciling human welfare with wildlife conservation. Elephants are accorded the status of National Heritage Animal and are deeply embedded in the country’s traditions and culture” it said.

The annual event reaffirms the global commitment to conserve one of the planet’s most iconic species and to strengthen measures to ensure their long-term survival, it stated.

According to the Ministry, Tamil Nadu, known for its biological and cultural richness, has a significant population of elephants and plays a vital role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. Tuesday’s event will serve as a platform for foresters, policymakers, civil society representatives and wildlife experts to exchange ideas on conservation strategies and conflict resolution, it stated.

Mr. Yadav will inaugurate the event in the presence of Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and R.S. Rajakannappan, Minister for Forests and Khadi, Tamil Nadu. Senior officials from MoEF&CC, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Ministry of Railways and officials from other States.

A workshop on human-elephant conflict at the event will provide a platform for elephant range States to share their challenges related to human-elephant coexistence and discuss the mitigation measures being implemented in their respective regions.

“This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under Project Elephant, which emphasises community participation and scientific approaches to address conflicts between humans and elephants, a critical concern for conservation and local safety” the release said.

Around 12 lakh students from 5,000 schools will participate in the elephant day celebrations in Tamil Nadu.