Bhubaneswar: The latest elephant census conducted in November 2024 has recorded 2,103 elephants in Odisha, highlighting the state’s rich wildlife diversity. Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia shared these figures in the State Assembly on Tuesday while addressing a query from BJD legislator Prasanna Acharya.
Acharya had sought district-wise data on elephant populations, along with information on the causes of elephant deaths and measures taken to mitigate human-elephant conflict. Responding to this, Singkhuntia stated that Odisha loses an average of 81 elephants annually, with the primary causes being poaching, electrocution, train and road accidents, diseases, and retaliatory attacks by locals. Natural causes such as falls, drowning, and old age also contribute to the mortality rate.
According to the census data, Mayurbhanj district has the highest elephant population at 295, followed by Dhenkanal (291), Angul (254), Keonjhar (195), Sundargarh (179), and Sambalpur (140). Other districts with significant populations include Deogarh (107), Cuttack (132), and Khurda (83). On the lower end, Rayagada and Jharsuguda each have just one elephant.
Elephants frequently migrate between forests in search of food, often venturing into human settlements, leading to conflicts. To curb these incidents and ensure both wildlife protection and human safety, the state government has undertaken several conservation initiatives, including:
- Planting elephant-friendly trees to provide natural food sources and reduce migration into villages.
- Developing grazing land and artificial waterbodies to improve habitat conditions.
- Enhancing anti-poaching efforts through dedicated forest patrols and monitoring camps.
- Leveraging technology and scientific methods to track elephant movements and prevent poaching.
- Strengthening fire prevention measures to protect elephant habitats.
