Tamil Nadu's wild elephant population hits record high
Tamil Nadu's wild elephants are on the rise, with the latest May 2025 survey counting 3,170 elephants—up by 107 from last year.
The survey spanned almost 9,000 sq km across five major reserves and used both direct sightings and dung counts to get the numbers right.
Nilgiri Elephant Reserve is the main hotspot
The Nilgiri Elephant Reserve stands out as the main elephant hotspot, home to most of Tamil Nadu's elephants (between 2,419 and 3,163).
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve also hosts a solid group of 162 elephants.
Age-wise, nearly half are adults, but there's a healthy mix of younger elephants too.
Elephant population has remained stable since 2002
The numbers show Tamil Nadu's elephant population has stayed stable since at least 2002.
Wildlife officials credit science-based management and habitat restoration for keeping things balanced.
Most herds have three to 16 members, with about one male for every two females.
Officials want to improve future surveys
Officials want to fine-tune future surveys—like adjusting for local conditions and timing them before monsoon season—to make data even sharper.
These insights will help protect habitats and support peaceful human-elephant coexistence going forward.