Responding to an official query from The Wave Andaman, the department confirmed that the management of feral elephants on Interview Island is guided by the Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan, while in Diglipur, localized interventions are undertaken mainly to reduce human–wildlife conflicts.
The Forest Department, the last recorded census of 2013, reported between 10 to 12 feral elephants inhabiting Interview Island. These elephants are descendants of individuals brought to the islands decades ago for logging operations and have since adapted to the wild after the cessation of timber extraction activities.
While the Interview Island population remains under the purview of the sanctuary’s management protocols, the elephants in the Diglipur Division are not covered under any dedicated management plan. However, the department stated that forest officials there occasionally implement measures to mitigate conflicts arising between humans and elephants, particularly in agricultural zones and fringe forest areas.
The Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department has officially confirmed that feral elephants are found in Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the Diglipur Division, according to a letter from the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). The department clarified that the management of elephants on Interview Island follows the existing Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan, while Diglipur Division undertakes local interventions primarily aimed at mitigating human–wildlife conflict.
The PCCF office stated that during the 2013 wildlife census, the Interview Island population was recorded at 10 to 12 elephants. These animals are descendants of elephants brought to the islands decades ago for timber operations, a practice that once defined the archipelago’s resource economy.
From Labour to Legacy
Asian elephants were first introduced to the Andamans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when timber companies imported trained elephants from mainland India to drag logs through dense forest tracts in North Andaman and Interview Island. However, as timber extraction declined sharply by the 1960s, several elephants were abandoned or released into the wild.
Over time, these animals adapted to their new environment, forming a self-sustaining feral population, unique in the world. While their numbers once reportedly exceeded 30, current estimates, as acknowledged in official records, indicate that the population has now shrunk to just over a dozen.
Ecological Impact on Interview Island
Despite their small numbers, these elephants have left a visible ecological imprint. Their feeding and foraging behavior has altered the forest composition across parts of Interview Island. Species such as bamboo, pandanus, and native palms have faced heavy grazing pressure, while young tree regeneration remains limited in areas of frequent elephant activity.
With no natural predators on the island, the elephants continue to influence vegetation patterns and forest structure. Conservationists have pointed out that their impact is further compounded by other introduced species like deer, goats, and feral pigs, which also compete for food and disturb native flora.
Divided Conservation Perspectives
The feral elephants’ future remains the subject of debate. Some conservation experts argue for their relocation or controlled management, viewing them as non-native species whose feeding habits threaten the island’s fragile ecosystem. Others contend that these elephants, having lived wild for decades, have become part of the islands’ natural and cultural heritage, symbolizing an ecological legacy that deserves protection.
The Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary, declared in the mid-1980s, was partly meant to safeguard this population. However, the absence of a dedicated, updated management plan and the lack of recent population data have left the elephants in a state of administrative ambiguity.
A Colonial-Era Echo
What began as a colonial-era logging experiment has evolved into an enduring ecological paradox. The elephants, once symbols of human enterprise, now embody the tension between industrial history and conservation ethics. Their continued survival depends on informed management decisions balancing ecosystem restoration with species protection.
As the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face increasing environmental stress from climate change, tourism, and developmental pressures, the question of how to manage these feral elephants, whether through protection, relocation, or coexistence, remains one of the region’s most complex conservation challenges.
