Bhubaneswar, Sep 23: In a concerning revelation during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia disclosed that nine elephants have died in the state over the past four and a half months.

The causes include electrocution (7 cases), a train accident (1 case), and poaching (1 case).

The minister was responding in writing to questions raised by MLAs Kanhai Charan Danga (BJP) and Ranendra Pratap Swain (BJD). He also reported that 45 people have lost their lives in human-elephant conflicts during the same period, underscoring the growing tension between wildlife and human settlements.

According to the latest elephant census conducted in November 2024, Odisha is home to 2,103 wild elephants and 21 captive elephants. The data highlights the urgent need for enhanced conservation strategies and conflict mitigation efforts.

The deaths due to electrocution point to the vulnerability of elephants navigating areas with unsafe power infrastructure. Meanwhile, the train accident and poaching incident reflect broader challenges in wildlife protection and enforcement.

The minister assured the Assembly that the government is actively working to reduce such incidents through improved monitoring, community awareness programmes, and coordination with energy and railway departments.