A staggering 888 elephants have perished in Odisha over the past 11 years, according to Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia. The deaths have been attributed to a combination of diseases, accidents, poaching, and electrocution.
In response to a query of BJP legislator Prasanta Kumar Jagadev, the minister detailed the grim statistics. He revealed that diseases were the leading cause, claiming the lives of 306 elephants. Electrocution was the second deadliest factor, with 158 elephants falling victim to it. Other notable causes included 33 elephants killed by poachers, 29 deaths due to train accidents, and 16 elephants killed in a pre-planned manner.
The minister also highlighted the troubling fact that the cause of death for 100 elephants remains unknown. This financial year (2024-25) has been particularly catastrophic, with 97 elephants dying in just 11 months, marking the worst year for elephant deaths in the state’s history.
The impact of human-elephant conflict has also been severe, with 1,209 people losing their lives due to elephant attacks during the same period. The state government has been providing compensation of Rs 6 lakh for each human death caused by elephant attacks, as well as financial support for crop damage.
The most recent elephant census reported a population of 2,103 elephants in Odisha’s forests. The ongoing loss of these majestic creatures is a stark reminder of the challenges faced in wildlife conservation and the urgent need for measures to protect both elephants and human communities.
