The Centre is considering setting up of a National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA) on the lines of the authority monitoring tiger conservation. Union Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters here on Tuesday that she was very positive about the idea of setting up of such an authority, as suggested by an expert committee recently.
Officials said two separate committees had been set up to study the recommendations of the expert panel on elephants and the existing elephant reserves. The committees, set up in January last, will also study the conflict areas and its mitigation and suggest guidelines for elephants in captive.
International Conference
To further strengthen the elephant conservation efforts, India is holding the first-ever international conference on elephants. “The conference to be held here from November 14 to 19 will start with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and end with the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi,” Natarajan said.
The meet will come out with a global common minimum vision on conservation, management and welfare of elephants across the world.