Project Elephant: a centrally sponsored scheme that backs States holding wild elephants

Background

Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, launched in February 1992.
It gives financial and technical support to major elephant-bearing States for the protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors.
It also seeks to address human-elephant conflict and the welfare of domesticated elephants.
Critical elephant habitats are notified as Elephant Reserves, with the approval of a Steering Committee chaired by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Elephant Reserves overlap with Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserved Forests, and activities in them are regulated under the existing Acts, Rules and Guidelines.