A growing herd: TN now home to 3,170 wild elephants, says new census

Tamil Nadu’s wild elephant population has reached an estimated 3,170, according to the Synchronized Elephant Population Estimation (SEPE) 2025. The Nilgiris Elephant Reserve hosts the largest population, highlighting the state’s conservation success. Despite challenges like human-elephant interactions and the need for more accurate dung-based estimates, efforts continue to protect these iconic animals.