Human-Animal Conflict Claimed 925 Lives, In Odisha, 784 Elephants Killed In 10 Years

The rising human-elephant conflict has resulted in 925 human lives being lost in Odisha in ten years, the state government has said.

Odisha Minister of Forest and Environment Pradip Kumar Amat on Tuesday informed the Assembly that the state had recorded 784 elephant deaths during the same period.

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Elephant deaths due to various causes

According to the minister, this includes elephants that died from various incidents, including accidents and diseases.

"Diseases, accidents, Poisoning by poachers and electrocution were some of the main resources attributed to elephant deaths in the state," the report said.

Out of this, the highest was recorded in 2018-19, when 93 jumbo deaths were reported in the state. 86 elephants died in 2021-22 in Odisha and 77 in 2020-21.

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Worst year for Odisha's elephants

"Since 2022, 11 elephants have been killed by miscreants in the forests of the state", the minister said.

2022 was particularly a concerning year for Odisha's wild elephant population as there was an increase in poaching and electrocution incidents.

In December 2022, the Odisha High Court, while expressing concern over the death of elephants and increasing incidents of poaching, said that 2022 was one of the worst years for jumbos in the state.

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No convictions so far

The state government investigated 39 elephant deaths and filed charge sheets against 50 people during the period. However, not even a single accused has been convicted in these cases so far, the minister said.

Elephant deaths from train hits

Odisha also had the highest number of elephant deaths from train hits in the country.

Pointing out that the state government has demarcated 14 elephant corridors for the safe movement of jumbos, the minister said action plans have been made to stop the poaching of elephants and their deaths due to train accidents and electrocution.

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Human toll in human-animal conflict

The Minister also stated that as many as 925 people died and 212 were permanently disabled in human-elephant conflicts in Odisha in the ten years from 2012-13 to 2021-22.

The highest number of 139 deaths was reported during 2020-21.

While 80 people died in man-elephant encounters in 2012-13, it increased to 105 in 2017-18 and 112 in 2021-22.

The minister said that the state government has provided Rs 4 lakh to compensate family members of people killed by jumbos.

"According to the latest elephant census conducted in Odisha in 2017, the number of elephants in different wildlife divisions was pegged at 1,976," said the minister.

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