The numbers are in, and they should shake us all. India’s elephants—icons of strength, wisdom, and good fortune—are disappearing faster than we feared.
As a global community, we can no longer afford to treat the loss of elephants as an abstract tragedy. This news is a call to act—and act together.
A few weeks ago, the results of a major multi-year population study on India’s elephants were published. The study, which used DNA analysis of elephant dung along with extensive field surveys across India’s remaining elephant habitats, has produced the most comprehensive understanding to date of the country’s wild elephant populations. Because India holds by far the largest remaining population of wild Asian elephants in the world, these findings also serve as a crucial indicator of the species’ global status. The results were sobering—showing a 25% decline, from approximately 29,964 elephants in 2017 to 22,446 by 2025.
Before this census, scientists estimated there were about 40,000 wild Asian elephants across all of Asia. With the steep decline in India, the total population now likely falls far below that 40,000 mark. By contrast, Africa is home to more than 415,000 wild elephants, meaning Asia’s wild population is now less than 10% of Africa’s. The low numbers of Asian elephants have alarmed conservationists since 1986, when the species was first placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Endangered—a category that signifies a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Nearly 40 years later, their numbers continue to fall—a warning that should concern us all.
Thankfully, the Wildlife Institute of India, a government agency, recognised the urgency of obtaining accurate data and invested significant resources—funding, technology, staff, and time—into this effort. Their detailed analysis not only provides vital information about the numbers and distribution of wild elephants in India, but also identifies where conservation challenges are most severe and what actions are needed to prevent further declines. The report highlights interventions to restore fragmented and degraded habitats, strengthen corridors, and reduce conflict between elephants and people.
At Wildlife SOS, these findings reaffirm what we have long believed: that the survival of wild elephants depends both on protecting enough natural habitat for them to roam freely and on finding ways for elephants to coexist peacefully with the people who share their borders. Our teams in Chhattisgarh are putting that belief into practice—working village by village to educate communities about how to stay safe while protecting their crops and property, and deploying trained biologists to guide elephants back toward forested areas for food and water. These efforts reduce conflict, prevent retaliation killings, and help communities better understand how to live safely alongside elephants. It’s a model that works—and one that complements larger landscape-level efforts to secure safe spaces for elephants across India.
Across India’s states, the distribution of wild elephants also shows deep disparities. According to the latest survey results, the state of Karnataka hosts the largest share at around 6,013 elephants, followed by Assam with about 4,159, Tamil Nadu with approximately 3,136, and Kerala with around 2,785. In contrast, some states in central and eastern India record very low counts—for example Madhya Pradesh with only 97 elephants and Maharashtra with 63—underscoring how fragmented and threatened elephant populations are in those regions. These stark differences underline that conservation efforts must be tailored—what works in Karnataka’s dense forest-corridor landscape will be very different from what’s needed in the small, isolated herds of central India.
For nearly three decades, Wildlife SOS has been working on the frontlines of elephant conservation in India, protecting habitats, responding to conflict, rescuing abused captive elephants, and providing lifelong care and medical treatment to individuals who can no longer survive in the wild. Through our Elephant Conservation and Care Centre and our community-led conflict mitigation programmes, we strive to address the challenges facing elephants from every angle: habitat loss, human–elephant conflict, poaching, and the exploitation of elephants in tourism and labour. Every rescue, every medical intervention, and every awareness programme is part of a larger effort to ensure that elephants, both wild and captive, have a future in India. This work is deeply personal to us, because we have seen first-hand both the suffering caused by the rapid disappearance of wild populations and the extraordinary resilience of elephants when they are protected, respected, and allowed to thrive.
Although it’s easy to feel disheartened by the study results, the thoroughness of this study gives us reason for hope. We no longer have to guess what needs to be done to save these elephants—the roadmap is already there. In some areas, the priority is removing invasive plant species; in others, it’s reconnecting wildlife corridors or addressing human–elephant conflict through community-led solutions. Protecting elephants isn’t only about saving a species—it’s about preserving the ecological balance, cultural heritage, and moral responsibility that define who we are.
The future of Asia’s elephants depends on what we do next—not only governments and conservationists, but each of us. At Wildlife SOS, news impacts everything we hold dear. We are ready to do our part—but saving Asia’s elephants will take a coalition of governments, scientists, and everyday citizens who refuse to let them disappear. The time for small steps has passed. The time for courage and commitment is now. We can not wait for a more convenient time to take action, the window is rapidly closing. Alone, our love for elephants can not save them. Only through strengthened collaboration and immediate action can we keep these majestic, iconic, magnificent animals from extinction. If we fail even the most recognisable and beloved species on the planet, it doesn’t bode well for our future in a wild world.
