Government declares elephant national heritage animal

The elephant has been declared a national heritage animal by the government, to step up measures to its protection. A notification to the effect was issued by the Environment Ministry today as per recommendation from the task force on elephant project.

The long-anticipated move has brought cheer to the conservationists who feel that jumbos with their close association with religion and culture in the country over the ages need to be protected in the same manner as the tiger.

Also in the works is the a National Elephants Conservation Authority (NECA) on the lines of the NTCA, which will come into being after the Wildlife (Protection) Act is suitably amended to pave the way to setting it up.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said recently that the government would introduce it (amendment) in the winter session of parliament which analysts say underlined the urgent need to

protect country's jumbos before they end up the tiger way whose count stands just around 1,411.

The declaration of the elephant as a national heritage animal and setting up of NECA for their protection are part of recommendations of the Elephant Task Force as per government, report "Securing the Future for Elephants in India.''