Bhubaneswar, June 5: Odisha forests are house to 2098 elephants with a rise by 122 during the last seven years.
As per Elephant Census Report 2024, released by the Forest and Environment department today , as many as 2098 elephants were counted in 38 Forest Divisions of Odisha, especially in Angul, Athagarh, Dhenkanal, Baripada, Chandaka, Khurda, Bonaik and Keonjhar.
The number includes 313 adult tuskers, 13 adult makhna, 748 adult female, 148 sub-adult male, 282 sub-adult female, 209 juvenile and 385 calves. However, there was presence of no elephant in 13 Divisions.
In 2017, 1976 jumbos were counted which included 212 adult tuskers, 10 adult makhna, 816 adult cows, 122 sub-adult male, 276 sub-adult female, 38 of unknown sex, 203 juvenile and 299 calves.
The report, however, said that there was decrease in number noticed in Similipal North, Similipal South, Balasore WL, Rairangpur, Bolangir, Parlakhemundi and few other divisions. This may be due overall change in movement patterns of the elephants in the State for their foraging habit and change in land use pattern.
The report also revealed significant change in movement pattern of elephants in Angul, Rourkela and Baripada circle.
A total of 403 elephant deaths during the last five years have been within the range of 3% to 4.5% of the total population, the least being during the last financial year of 2023-24.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife Susanta Nanda said, 66 elephant deaths were reported last year.The forest department is set to utilize Artificial intelligence (AI) facility to keep a close watch on the movement of the elephants in Angul and Dhenkanal so as to curb elephant death.
