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World Elephant Day: Five Bengal Spots to Spot Wild Elephants
Elephants are big, gentle animals that live in many parts of Asia.
August 12 is a special day called World Elephant Day, when people celebrate and learn about elephants.
In a place called Bengal, in India, elephants have lived for a very long time.
There are forests where wild elephants still live today.
People who want to see elephants can visit special parks and sanctuaries.
Jaldapara National Park is a big park where elephants live near a river.
Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary also have many elephants.
Buxa Tiger Reserve is so big that elephants travel through it between India and Bhutan.
Another place called Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve does not have safari rides, but visitors can still spot elephants with local guides.
These places help protect elephants and their homes.
World Elephant Day is observed on August 12, drawing attention to Bengal's wild elephant populations.
Wild elephants have been part of Bengal's history for centuries, once serving in battles and royal expeditions.
Jaldapara National Park, spread over about 216 square kilometres in Alipurduar, is home to a sizeable elephant population.
Buxa Tiger Reserve spans nearly 760 square kilometres along the India-Bhutan border and serves as an international migration corridor for elephants.
Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve, established in 2002 under Project Elephant, covers about 414 square kilometres but offers no formal safari rides.
- Who
- Wildlife enthusiasts and travellers, along with the wild Asian elephants that inhabit Bengal's forests.
- What
- A guide to five places in Bengal — Jaldapara, Gorumara, Chapramari, Buxa and Mayurjharna — where visitors can spot elephants in their natural habitat.
- Where
- Bengal (West Bengal), India — including northern Bengal's forests, the Dooars, Alipurduar and the jungles of Jhargram.
- When
- On World Elephant Day, observed on August 12.
- Why
- To celebrate World Elephant Day and highlight the key habitats of the Asian elephant in Bengal.
Key facts
- Event
- World Elephant Day, observed August 12
- Featured destinations
- Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve
- Jaldapara National Park
- About 216 sq km on the banks of the Torsa River in Alipurduar
- Gorumara National Park
- Nearly 80 sq km in the Dooars; declared a national park in 1994
- Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
- About 9.6 sq km; designated in 1998; safaris closed on Thursdays
- Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Nearly 760 sq km along the India-Bhutan border; best visited October to April; closed during monsoon
- Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve
- About 414 sq km; established in 2002 under Project Elephant; no formal safari rides
Sources
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