Bhubaneswar,Dec 10: With the man-animal conflict is on the rise, Odisha has recorded dwindling population of elephants despite scores of measures to protect the endangered pachyderms.
At least 857 elephants’ death has been recorded during the last decade.
It was revealed by the Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Odisha Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia on Tuesday.
Responding to a query relating to elephant population in the state, during the Odisha Assembly, Singkhuntia said that hanging powerlines in dense forests have been prime death traps for the jumbos.
Apart from it, diseases, rail accidents and poaching are some of the other reasons behind the elephant death that is on the rise, Singkhuntia said.
According to the database furnished by the state forest department,as many as 149 elephants were electrocuted to death between 2014-15 and 2024-25 (till December 2) while poachers killed at least 30 elephants, for their tusks.
Diseases claimed the lives of the highest number of elephants that is 305 and natural reasons have attributed to 229 elephant deaths.
The minister further said that at least 29 elephants were killed being hit by trains. Similarly, seven adult pachyderms died in road accidents and two by poisoning.
Apart from it, at least 16 elephants died due to infighting in the herds whereas death of as amny as 90 jumbos is yet to be ascertained.
In 2018-19, at least 93 elephants died whereas 92 elephant deaths were reported in Odisha during 2022-23.Similarly, 54 pachyderms died in 2014-15.
While 66 elephants died in the state during the financial year 2023-24, the figure is 67 till December 2 in the current financial year, the minister reported.
