Wildlife Corridor to Help India's Elephants

A wildlife corridor is being opened between two reserves in India that will help the migration of elephants for feeding and breeding purposes. Very, very important for a healthy and diverse genetic pool. It's not just the number of a species, but the "quality" that matters as well. Inbreeding is disastrous.

An "elephant corridor" linking two forest reserves is being opened in southern India, giving the endangered animals unrestricted movement to feed and breed in the region, officials say.

More than 1,000 elephants are set to gain right of passage through the corridor linking the Edayargalli and Doddasampige reserves when land deeds are handed over to the Karnataka state forest department on Thursday.

India is home to an estimated 25,000 wild elephants, the most in Asia, but their numbers have been vastly depleted by poaching and habitat loss.

Thanks to the Wildlife Trust of India and the International Fund for Animal Welfare for acquiring the deeds to the land.

Photo by sam2cents.