The Ministry of Environment and Forest has released about Rs 3000 crore to the Northeastern States during the past four financial years under the "Project Elephant'. Official sources said here today altogether 17 States, including six NE States, received the fund under the project where elephants exist in the wild. Tripura's share was Rs 36 lakh. Project Elephant had declared 24 pachyderm reserves in 12 States to protect elephant population in the wild and develop their habitat. It was launched in 1991-92 as a sequel to a series of efforts to conserve this magnificent species covering primarily twelve States, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura besides, West Bengal, sources added. The highest amount was released to Assam followed by Arunachal Pradesh. The lowest amount was released to Mizoram followed by Tripura.