The Indian Government is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Project Elephant with the Gaj Utsav 2023. The Gaj Utsav 2023 will be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on April 9 at Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

• This event is significant as Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the highest density of tigers in the world.
• This two-day event aims to promote elephant conservation, protect their habitat and corridors, and prevent human-elephant conflicts. It will also ensure the welfare of captive elephants in India.

Project Elephant: Its Significance

Project Elephant is a centrally-sponsored scheme launched in 1991-92 to protect elephants and their habitats in India. With an estimated population of 30,000-40,000 elephants, India accounts for more than 60 per cent of the global wild elephant population. Elephants are considered a national heritage animal protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.