World Elephant Day 2025, Theme, Plan Bee, and Elephant Conservation in India

World Elephant Day 2025 is observed on August 12 with the theme “Matriarchs & Memories”, honoring elephant matriarchs and women conservationists. Initiatives include habitat mapping, real-time tracking, and Plan Bee to prevent rail accidents. India's Project Elephant and 33+ reserves continue protecting the endangered Asian elephant.

World Elephant Day 2025, Theme, Plan Bee, and Elephant Conservation in India

World Elephant Day 2025 is one of the global events that has been dedicated to raising awareness about the protection and well-being of elephants. Through observing this day, the efforts are towards shedding light upon the threat of these giants. Threats that surround these animals are related to habitat loss, poaching, human-elephant conflict, and accidents caused by the railway crossings. 

Therefore the World Elephant Day inspires individuals, organizations, and governments to take actions to ensure elephants can be safe in nature. World Elephant Day 2025 will have even greater importance, as conservation and communities across the globe. The day has been uniting under a theme that celebrates the leadership and memory within elephant herds.

In the process, it also highlights the role of human efforts in protecting them. Refer to the provided details below to know about World Elephant Day 2025, its theme, and other important details. 

Also Read: Important Days in August 2025

World Elephant Day 2025

World Elephant Day 2025 focuses on the idea of preserving both the physical presence and the cultural significance of elephants. For those wondering about when world Elephant day is celebrated; it is observed on 12th August of each year. World Elephant Day 2025, the date falls on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. On this day, schools, wildlife organisations, and local communities around the world will host events, share stories, and encourage people to take part in conservation efforts.

The campaign of World Elephant Day 2025 tells the stories of the matriarch elephants. The wise female leaders who guide their herds and carry generations of knowledge within them. Global activities for World Elephant Day 2025 include public awareness drives, educational programs, habitat clean-ups, and artistic performances. These initiatives aim to involve people of all ages, helping them connect emotionally with the cause and commit to actions that protect elephants.

Also Read: List Of International National Days 2025 Month-Wise List

World Elephant Day 2025 Theme

The World Elephant Day 2025 Theme has been announced as “Matriarchs & Memories.” Provided here are the complete details about the World Elephant Day 2025 Theme, which highlights two interconnected elements. Through this combined theme, the wisdom of elephant matriarchs is combined with the dedication of human protectors. 

The theme inspires a collective responsibility to safeguard these animals and the heritage they represent.

  • Elephant Matriarchs – These are the senior female leaders of elephant herds. They use their remarkable memory to guide the group to water sources, safe feeding grounds, and migration routes, especially during challenging times like droughts.
  • Women Conservationists – Human leaders who dedicate their lives to saving elephants through policy advocacy, field research, veterinary care, and community programs.

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Elephant Conservation in India

As we are all aware of the fact that India has been home to a significant population of the endangered Asian Elephant. Therefore, conservation of these elephants serves as a unique challenge, such as habitat loss due to urbanization, fragmentation of migration corridors, etc. Provided here is the table that covers the information related to measures taken for elephant Conservation in India: 

Elephant Conservation in India
Initiative Description
Advanced Corridor Mapping Using satellite data to identify and protect elephant corridors
Health Monitoring Veterinary surveys and tech-based health checks on elephant populations
Real-Time Tracking Systems GPS collars to monitor elephant movements for conflict prevention
Centralized Dashboard Integrated platform for data analysis and decision-making
Community Participation Awareness programs promoting coexistence and conflict reduction

Project Elephant

Project Elephant is one of the nationwide programmes that was established in the early 1990s to ensure the long-term survival of wild elephants in natural habitats. This project operates under the central funding and technical guidance. But the project elephant was implemented under the cooperation with states that have wild elephant populations.

In recent years, Project Elephant was merged with Project Tiger to form a single integrated scheme called Project Tiger & Elephant (PT&E). This combined initiative aims to optimize resources and strengthen conservation efforts for both iconic species. Listed here are the key objectives of the Project Elephant that one must keep in mind in order to understand the initiatives.

  • Habitat and Corridor Protection – Safeguarding existing forest areas and creating safe passageways between them so elephants can migrate naturally.
  • Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation – Introducing measures such as early-warning systems, physical barriers, and community awareness to reduce clashes.
  • Protection from Poaching – Preventing illegal killing and trade in ivory, and increasing patrolling in vulnerable areas.
  • Care for Captive Elephants – Ensuring proper veterinary care, better living conditions, and training for handlers.
  • Scientific Research – Monitoring elephant populations, studying movement patterns, and developing deterrents to keep elephants away from farmlands.
  • Monitoring Illegal Killing – Recording and analysing incidents to identify problem zones and strengthen enforcement. 

Elephant Reserves in India

In India, the elephant reserves are designated landscapes where elephant conservation is the primary focus. They often overlap with national parks, tiger reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries, creating a network of protected habitats. Mentioned here are some of the popular elephant reserves in India that one can explore: 

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Elephant Reserves in India
Zone State Elephant Reserves
North-Western Landscape Uttrakhand Shivalik Elephant Reserve
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve

Terai Elephant Reserve

East-Central Landscape West Bengal Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve
Jharkhand Singhbhum Elephant Reserve
Orissa Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve

Mahanadi Elephant Reserve

Sambalpur Elephant Reserve

Chhattisgarh Lemru Elephant Reserve

Badalkhol-Tamor Pingla ER

Kameng- Sonitpur Landscape Arunachal Pradesh Kameng Elephant Reserve
Assam Sonitpur Elephant Reserve
Eastern-South Bank Landscape Assam Dihing-Patkai Elephant Reserve
Arunachal Pradesh South Arunachal Elephant Reserve
Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki Landscape Assam Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER

Dhansiri-Lungding ER

Nagaland Intanki Elephant Reserve

Singphan Elephant Reserve

North Bengal-Greater Manas Landscape Assam Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve
West Bengal Eastern Dooars ER
Meghalaya Landscape Meghalaya Garo Hills Elephant Reserve

Khasi-hills Elephant Reserve

Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Landscape Karnataka Mysore Elephant Reserve

Dandeli Elephant Reserve

Kerala Wayanad Elephant Reserve

Nilambur Elephant Reserve

Tamil Nadu Coimbatore Elephant Reserve

Nilgiri Elephant Reserve

Andhra Pradesh Rayala Elephant Reserve
Annamalai- Nelliyampathy-High Range Landscape Tamil Nadu Annamalai Elephant Reserve
Kerala Anamudi Elephant Reserve
Periyar- Agasthyamalai Landscape Kerala Periyar Elephant Reserve
Tamil Nadu Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve
Tamil Nadu Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve

Also Read: Elephant Reserves In India List

Plan Bee Indian Railways

Plan Bee is a creative initiative that has been developed in order to prevent elephants from being hit by trains. This initiative has been taken especially in regions where railway tracks pass through forest areas. Under this initiative, devices are installed along railway lines that emit a buzzing sound of swarming honey bees. 

As elephants have a natural fear of bees, they tend to avoid such a source of sound, thereby staying clear of the tracks. Provided here are the key features of Plan Bee that one can refer to: 

  • Low-Cost Technology – The devices are inexpensive to produce and install, making them easy to adopt in multiple locations.
  • Wide Sound Range – The buzzing sound can be heard up to 600–700 metres away, giving elephants enough time to change their path.
  • Effectiveness – In areas where Plan Bee has been implemented, reports show a sharp decline in train-elephant collision incidents.
  • Recognition – The approach has been praised for its innovative yet simple method of addressing a serious conservation issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is World Elephant Day?

It is an international day observed every year on August 12 to raise awareness about elephant protection and conservation.

What is the theme for World Elephant Day 2025?

The theme is “Matriarchs & Memories,” focusing on the leadership of elephant matriarchs and the role of women in conservation.

What are the main threats to elephants in India?

Habitat loss, reduced migration corridors, human-elephant conflict, poaching, and railway collisions.

How many Elephant Reserves are there in India?

There are 33 elephant reserves across 14 states, covering over 80,000 square kilometres.

What is Plan Bee?

Plan Bee is a railway initiative that uses buzzing sounds of bees to deter elephants from railway tracks, reducing collision incidents.

World Elephant Day 2025, Theme, Plan Bee, and Elephant Conservation in India

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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