Elephant Reserves in India – State-wise List: India is home to the largest population of Asian elephants in the world, making their conservation a critical priority. To protect these majestic animals and their natural habitats, the Government of India initiated the Project Elephant in 1992. As part of this initiative, several Elephant Reserves were established across various states. These reserves not only ensure the safety and well-being of elephants but also help maintain the delicate ecological balance of forests and wildlife corridors.
In this blog, we present a state-wise list of Elephant Reserves in India, highlighting their location, year of establishment, and unique features. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a student preparing for competitive exams, or simply curious about India’s biodiversity, this detailed list will help you understand how India is preserving its national heritage animal through structured conservation zones.
Table of Contents
Let’s explore how each state contributes to protecting the gentle giants of our forests through dedicated Elephant Reserves.
Elephant Reserves in India
| S.No. | Elephant Reserve Name | State(s) | Year Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singhbhum Elephant Reserve | Jharkhand | 2001 |
| 2 | Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve | West Bengal | 2002 |
| 3 | Mahanadi Elephant Reserve | Odisha | 2002 |
| 4 | Sambalpur Elephant Reserve | Odisha | 2002 |
| 5 | Garo Hills Elephant Reserve | Meghalaya | 2001 |
| 6 | Dandeli Elephant Reserve | Karnataka | 2011 |
| 7 | Mysore Elephant Reserve | Karnataka | 2002 |
| 8 | Wayanad Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 9 | Nilambur Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 10 | Periyar Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 11 | Rayala Elephant Reserve | Andhra Pradesh | 2003 |
| 12 | Nilgiri Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu & Kerala | 2002 |
| 13 | Coimbatore Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2003 |
| 14 | Anamalai Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2003 |
| 15 | Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve | West Bengal | 2002 |
| 16 | Sonitpur Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2002 |
| 17 | Dhansiri–Lungding Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 18 | Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 19 | Dihing–Patkai Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 20 | Intanki Elephant Reserve | Nagaland | 2005 |
| 21 | South Arunachal Elephant Reserve | Arunachal Pradesh | 2002 |
| 22 | Kameng Elephant Reserve | Arunachal Pradesh | 2002 |
| 23 | Shivalik Elephant Reserve | Uttarakhand | 2002 |
| 24 | Terai Elephant Reserve | Uttar Pradesh | 2009 |
| S.No. | Elephant Reserve Name | State(s) | Year Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singhbhum Elephant Reserve | Jharkhand | 2001 |
| 2 | Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve | West Bengal | 2002 |
| 3 | Mahanadi Elephant Reserve | Odisha | 2002 |
| 4 | Sambalpur Elephant Reserve | Odisha | 2002 |
| 5 | Garo Hills Elephant Reserve | Meghalaya | 2001 |
| 6 | Dandeli Elephant Reserve | Karnataka | 2011 |
| 7 | Mysore Elephant Reserve | Karnataka | 2002 |
| 8 | Wayanad Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 9 | Nilambur Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 10 | Periyar Elephant Reserve | Kerala | 2002 |
| 11 | Rayala Elephant Reserve | Andhra Pradesh | 2003 |
| 12 | Nilgiri Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu & Kerala | 2002 |
| 13 | Coimbatore Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2003 |
| 14 | Anamalai Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2003 |
| 15 | Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve | West Bengal | 2002 |
| 16 | Sonitpur Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2002 |
| 17 | Dhansiri–Lungding Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 18 | Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 19 | Dihing–Patkai Elephant Reserve | Assam | 2003 |
| 20 | Intanki Elephant Reserve | Nagaland | 2005 |
| 21 | South Arunachal Elephant Reserve | Arunachal Pradesh | 2002 |
| 22 | Kameng Elephant Reserve | Arunachal Pradesh | 2002 |
| 23 | Shivalik Elephant Reserve | Uttarakhand | 2002 |
| 24 | Terai Elephant Reserve | Uttar Pradesh | 2009 |
| 25 | Surguja–Jashpur Elephant Reserve | Chhattisgarh | 2011 |
| 26 | Badalkhol–Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve | Chhattisgarh | 2011 |
| 27 | Lemru Elephant Reserve | Chhattisgarh | 2022 |
| 28 | North Chhattisgarh Elephant Reserve | Chhattisgarh | 2023 |
| 29 | Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2003 |
| 30 | Gajah-2 Elephant Reserve | Odisha | 2023 |
📌 Total Elephant Reserves in India: 30 (as of 2024)
These reserves are part of Project Elephant, launched in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors.
✅ 30 MCQs on Elephant Reserves in India – State-wise List
1. Where was the first Elephant Reserve in India established?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Jharkhand
D) Assam
👉 Answer: B) Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, 2001)
2. Which Elephant Reserve is located in Odisha?
A) Singhbhum
B) Mayurjharna
C) Mayurbhanj
D) Kaziranga
👉 Answer: C) Mayurbhanj
3. Project Elephant was launched in the year –
A) 1982
B) 1992
C) 2002
D) 2012
👉 Answer: B) 1992
4. Which Indian state has the highest number of Elephant Reserves?
A) Assam
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Odisha
👉 Answer: A) Assam
5. The Singhbhum Elephant Reserve is located in which state?
A) Jharkhand
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Bihar
D) Odisha
👉 Answer: A) Jharkhand
6. The Kaziranga Elephant Reserve is in –
A) Assam
B) Nagaland
C) Manipur
D) Tripura
👉 Answer: A) Assam
7. Which of the following is the first Elephant Reserve in India?
A) Singhbhum
B) Nilgiri
C) Kaziranga
D) Mayurbhanj
👉 Answer: B) Nilgiri
8. Which Elephant Reserve is shared between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala?
A) Wayanad
B) Anamalai
C) Nilgiri
D) Coorg
👉 Answer: C) Nilgiri
9. Which Elephant Reserve is located in West Bengal?
A) Singhbhum
B) Mayurjharna
C) Kaziranga
D) Anamalai
👉 Answer: B) Mayurjharna
10. Which of the following Elephant Reserves is found in Kerala?
A) Periyar
B) Kaziranga
C) Anamalai
D) Singhbhum
👉 Answer: A) Periyar
🐘 More MCQs:
11. Which Elephant Reserve is located in Chhattisgarh?
👉 Answer: Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserve
12. The Rajaji Elephant Reserve is in which state?
👉 Answer: Uttarakhand
13. Which state has the Lemru Elephant Reserve?
👉 Answer: Chhattisgarh
14. Which Elephant Reserve is located in the Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh?
👉 Answer: Kameng Elephant Reserve
15. Mysore Elephant Reserve is in which state?
👉 Answer: Karnataka
16. The Terai Elephant Reserve is proposed in –
👉 Answer: Uttar Pradesh
17. The Singhbhum Elephant Reserve was established in which year?
👉 Answer: 2001
18. Kaziranga Elephant Reserve overlaps with which famous national park?
👉 Answer: Kaziranga National Park
19. The Dandeli Elephant Reserve is located in –
👉 Answer: Karnataka
20. Which is the largest Elephant Reserve in India (area-wise)?
👉 Answer: Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve
21. Anamalai Elephant Reserve is located in which state?
👉 Answer: Tamil Nadu
22. How many Elephant Reserves are there in India (as of 2024)?
👉 Answer: 33
23. Which ministry governs Project Elephant in India?
👉 Answer: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
24. Kaziranga Elephant Reserve is also known for protecting which other endangered species?
👉 Answer: One-Horned Rhinoceros
25. Baitarani Elephant Reserve is located in –
👉 Answer: Odisha
26. Which state has both Lemru and Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Elephant Reserves?
👉 Answer: Chhattisgarh
27. Which Elephant Reserve covers parts of Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district?
👉 Answer: Nilgiri Elephant Reserve
28. Which state recently declared the Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve?
👉 Answer: Tamil Nadu
29. Which Elephant Reserve is located in Tripura?
👉 Answer: Gumti Elephant Reserve
30. In which year was the Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve in West Bengal notified?
👉 Answer: 2002
