Bhubaneswar: The escalating conflict between humans and elephants in Odisha has resulted in the tragic loss of 668 lives over the past three years, according to State Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia.
Addressing the Odisha Assembly, Minister Khuntia highlighted the alarming rise in casualties and the extensive damage to crops and property caused by these encounters.
In response to a query from BJD MLA Sanatan Mahakud, Minister Khuntia revealed that, in addition to the human fatalities, 509 individuals have been injured in elephant attacks during this period. The conflict has also led to the destruction of 73,620 acres of crops and damage to 10,259 houses, exacerbating the plight of affected communities.
The minister’s report underscored the severity of the situation, noting that Odisha has the highest number of human deaths due to elephant encounters in India. In the fiscal year 2022-2023 alone, the state recorded 149 human casualties, marking a significant increase from previous years.
The minister also pointed out that the conflict is not one-sided. Human retaliation and preventive measures have resulted in the deaths of 40 elephants in the last five months, both naturally and through accidental conflicts. Additionally, other wildlife species, including five leopards and around 200 other animals, have perished in the same timeframe.
The rising human-elephant conflict in Odisha calls for urgent and effective measures to mitigate the impact on both human and elephant populations. The state government is urged to implement comprehensive strategies to ensure the safety and coexistence of both communities.