Elephant attacks claim 668 lives in Odisha over three years, informs Minister

Bhubaneswar, Nov 26: The Odisha Assembly was informed on Tuesday that elephant attacks have claimed the lives of at least 668 people in the state over the past three years. Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia shared this data in response to a question raised by BJD MLA Sanatan Mahakud. In addition to the fatalities, 509 individuals have been injured during this period due to elephant attacks.

The year 2022-2023 alone saw 149 casualties linked to elephant encounters. The minister also highlighted the significant damage caused by elephant herds, with approximately 73,620 acres of crops destroyed and 10,259 houses damaged during the same period.

Responding to another query from BJD MLA Tusharkanti Behera, the Minister reported that between July 1 and November 20 of this year, 40 elephants, 5 leopards, and 200 other wildlife species had died in the state. Inquiries have been initiated into these fatalities, and 26 individuals have been arrested in connection with elephant deaths. Additionally, two forest guards and one forester have been suspended for negligence in duty. Similarly, 14 arrests have been made concerning the deaths of leopards.

The state government is taking several measures to address the issue, including improving wildlife habitats, planting trees, creating artificial water bodies, setting up anti-poaching camps, monitoring wildlife and poacher movements, and increasing public awareness to prevent further fatalities among elephants, leopards, and other wildlife.