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Asian elephant
हाथी (hathi)
India's largest land animal, moving in family herds led by an old female along traditional routes that cross roads, railways and canals.
👀 How to recognise it
Fresh dung and broken branches across a track mean a herd has passed within hours. Sightings are from a vehicle on forest roads, early or late.
Protection
Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Where to see it
Mysore
The elephants of the Mysore Dasara procession come from Karnataka's forest camps and are trained for months before the festival; the tradition ties the city's biggest festival directly to these forests.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve (often)
Dehradun
Ganesha's animal, and the reason the corridors between Rajaji and Corbett are legally protected: the herds have used them for far longer than the roads have existed.
Rajaji National Park (often) · Lachhiwala Nature Park · Maldevta
Haridwar
Ganesha's animal, and the reason the corridors between Rajaji and Corbett are legally protected: the herds have used them for far longer than the roads have existed.
Rajaji National Park, Chilla (often) · Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (in season)
Isha Yoga Center
In the Coimbatore Forest Division elephants and people share the same land. The corridors exist so that the herds can move without meeting people.
Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park, Anaikatti (in season) · Kovai Kutralam (Siruvani Falls) (in season) · Velliangiri Hills
Munnar
This has been a coexistence site for over a century, documented since about 1912. Kerala's state animal is the elephant, and on the estate roads around Munnar elephants also move at night, which is why estate traffic slows after dark.
Anakulam Elephant Village (often) · Tea Plantations
Rishikesh
Ganesha's animal, and the reason the corridors between Rajaji and Corbett are legally protected: the herds have used them for far longer than the roads have existed.
Vashishta Gufa