Bhubaneswar, Sept 6: At least 86 elephants have died due to electrocution in the state during the last five years, informed the Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO).
In the latest incident of elephant deaths in Odisha, a 15-year-old tusker and a five-year-old female elephant were found dead in Satkosia Tiger Reserve on Tuesday.
The carcasses of the two elephants were found in Tarabha forest under the Pampasar range of the reserve by forest department personnel days after their death.
According to WSO data, as many as 24 elephants died of electrocution in financial year 2018-19 in Odisha forests.
Similarly, electrocution claimed lives of 11 elephants in 2019-20 and nine in 2020-21.
While 13 electrocution deaths were reported in 2021-22, as many as 23 cases were reported in 2022-23.
In financial year 2023-24, six elephants have died of electrocution in the state till September 5.
The WSO's most shocking revelation is that out of 86 deaths, 62 elephants were electrocuted by poachers and 24 electrocution deaths were accidental.
Highest seven elephants were killed coming in contact with hanging live wire on October 27 in 2018 in Kamalanga area of Dhenkanal district that created ruckus in the state over safety of the pachyderms.
The incident took place when a herd of 13 elephants were marching towards another corner of the forest.
