Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Singhbhum Elephant Reserve: India's Vast Landscape Protecting Elephants
There is a very big park in India called the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve.
It is in a state called Jharkhand.
It was the very first special place in India made just for elephants.
That happened in the year 2001.
It is also the biggest elephant home in the whole country.
The park is so large that it covers thousands of square kilometres.
Inside it, there are forests and a wildlife sanctuary called Dalma.
The people who take care of it want to protect Asian elephants and the paths they use to travel from place to place.
They also want to keep elephants and people safe, especially where people farm and dig for minerals, so both can live together peacefully.
Singhbhum Elephant Reserve is India's first-ever and largest elephant reserve, spanning 13,440 square kilometres.
Located in the Kolha region of Jharkhand (formerly Singhbhum district), it was established in 2001 under Project Elephant.
The reserve spreads across the East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.
Its expanse includes 4,530 square kilometres of forest area and the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.
Its goal is to protect wild Asian elephants, preserve migratory corridors, reduce human-elephant conflict, and manage pressure on forest habitats.
- Who
- Wild Asian elephants, and the Government of Jharkhand, which manages the reserve under Project Elephant.
- What
- The Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, India's first-ever and largest designated elephant reserve, covering 13,440 square kilometres.
- When
- Established and notified in 2001.
- Where
- Kolha region of Jharkhand (formerly Singhbhum district), across East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.
- Why
- To protect wild Asian elephant populations and their migratory corridors, lower human-elephant conflict, and manage human and livestock pressure on forest habitats.
- Reserve
- Singhbhum Elephant Reserve
- Location
- Kolha region, Jharkhand, India
- Established
- 2001, under Project Elephant
- Status
- India's oldest and largest elephant reserve
- Total area
- 13,440 square kilometres
- Forest area
- 4,530 square kilometres
- Districts covered
- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan
- Wildlife sanctuary included
- Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary