Elephant census in eastern forest range

India's wildlife authorities began a census of elephants in the north eastern forest range today.The area coverd are in the Dooars region of West Bengal, where a couple of prominent wildlife sanctuaries like Jaldapara and Gorumara, Mahananda wildlife reserves are located. The census will help the wildlife authorities to devise ways to protect Asiatic elephants and its habitat in the region. India is home to more than 50 per cent of Asiatic elephants but its population has been dwindling due to frequent poaching and deforestation.