Odisha: In Odisha, 857 elephants have died over the past decade, as reported by the Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia. The data was shared in the state assembly on December 10, addressing a question from BJP MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagadev.
The leading cause of death was various diseases, accounting for 305 elephant fatalities during this period. Additionally, 229 elephants died from natural causes, such as sunstroke and conflicts with other elephants, while 149 losses were due to electrocution. Other causes included poaching, which claimed 30 elephants, and 36 were killed in road and train accidents. The reasons behind 90 elephant deaths remain unknown.
Census data from May 2015, May 2017, and November 2024 recorded elephant populations in Odisha at 1,954, 1,976, 2,098, and 2,103, respectively. In a related development, 26 individuals have been arrested in connection with the elephant deaths, and disciplinary actions have been taken against two forest guards and one forester for negligence.
The report also highlighted the impact of human-elephant conflict, with 668 human fatalities and 509 serious injuries reported in the last three years. Additionally, elephants have killed 139 domestic animals, damaged over 10,259 houses, and destroyed crops on approximately 73,620 acres of land during the same time frame.