As per the last census carried out in 2008, East Khasi Hills district had none, West Khasi Hills had 345, Ri-Bhoi 155, Jaintia Hills 26, East Garo Hills 236, West Garo Hills 216 and South Garo Hills leading with 833 - the highest number of elephants in the state.
Admitting that the pachyderm population was declining, parliamentary secretary advisor Pariong told the Assembly that there were a total of 1,840 elephants in 1998, 1,858 in 2002 and a fall back to 1,811 in 2008.
"Elephant population has decreased to some extent," he observed.
Quizzed by legislator T D Shira if the census figures also took into account elephants 'migrating' to Meghalaya from neighbouring Assam, he said that migration changes from day to day.