The number of wild elephants in Karnataka has increased to 6,395 this year from 6,049 in 2017, as per the state forest department’s latest elephant census report released by the state forest and environment minister, Eshwar Khandre, on Wednesday.
In 2010, the projected number was 5,740. It stood at 6,072 in 2012 before the dip in 2017.
The synchronized census was conducted with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa from May 17-19 using direct and indirect methods.
Currently, elephants are found in 32 forest divisions unlike 34 in 2017.
Of the total 6,395 elephants estimated, around 161 were within private lands like coffee estates which pose conservation challenges.
Around 3,500 forest department personnel participated in the extensive census activity.