Elephant population in the country is estimated at 29,964 as per the census conducted in 2017. The South Region accounted for 14,612 followed by North East with 10,139 elephants. The tiger population across the country is estimated at 2,967 as per the 2018 census. Sources in the Environment, Forest and Climate Ministry said the census of tigers is undertaken at the national level once every four years and that of elephants at every five years.
The increase in forest cover is attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside Recorded forest areas. Though the 2018 tiger census brought cheers to Kerala with the number of big cats touching 190 against the 136 recorded in the previous survey, the state has witnessed a marginal drop in its wild elephant population. Latest survey figures suggest that there are around 5,706 wild elephants against 6,177 jumbos recorded in the 2012 census.