The elephant population in the Northeast has recorded an alarming decrease since the past one-and-a-half decade, according to the Assam tribune.

Excerpts: [Link]

As per official data, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal which make up the bulk of the elephant population in the North-east, have now (2008 census) a combined population of 8,782 as against 10,498 in 1993; 8,952 in 1997 and 8,721 in 2002. Compared to 2002 figures, there has been a marginal increase in the number in Assam (35) and Arunachal (83) but the situation is worse in Meghalaya which now has 1,811 elephants as against 1,868 in 2002, 1,840 in 1997 and 2,872 in 1993. Even the present populations in Assam and Arunachal are much less than what they were in 1993.?

The break-up for Assam during the last four censuses is 5,524 (1993), 5,312 (1997), 5,246 (2002) and 5,281 (2008), while the Arunachal counting reads as 2,102 (1993), 1,800 (1997), 1,607 (2002) and 1,690 (2008).

Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura have little to cheer about, with the pachyderms fast losing out on the number game. From 50 elephants in 1993, Manipur does not have a single left; Mizoram has a dozen left from the 33 it had in 2002; Nagaland has 152 from 178 in 1993; and Tripura’s share is 59 from a sizeable 100 in 1993. It, however, has witnessed a marginal increase from 40 in 2002.

Experts attribute this decline in elephant population to rapid depletion of elephant habitat and encroachment on elephant corridors, resulting in a serious man-elephant conflict besides a spurt in accidental deaths as the animals have increasingly been forced to stray into human settlements.