Elephant Population Rises To 2098 In Odisha, 66 Deaths In Last 1 Year: Census Report

Bhubaneswar: Elephant population in Odisha now stands at 2098, showing a marginal rise in their number by 122 in the last seven years, according to the Elephant Census Report 2024.

As per Elephant Census Report 2024 released by the Forest and Environment department, total 2098 elephants were counted in 38 Forest Divisions of Odisha, especially in Angul, Athagarh, Dhenkanal, Baripada, Chandaka, Khurda, Bonaik and Keonjhar.

The 2098 elephants include 313 adult tuskers, 13 adult makhna, 748 adult female, 148 sub-adult male, 282 sub-adult female, 209 juvenile and 385 calves. However, there was presence of no elephant in 13 Divisions.

Last elephant census was carried out in 2017 wherein 1976 jumbos were counted which included 212 adult tuskers, 10 adult makhna, 816 adult cow, 122 sub-adult male, 276 sub-adult female, 38 of unknown sex, 203 juvenile and 299 calves.

The report, however, said that there was decrease in number noticed in Similipal North, Similipal South, Balasore WL, Rairangpur, Bolangir, Parlakhemundi and few other divisions. This may be due overall change in movement patterns of the elephants in the State for their foraging habit and change in land use pattern.

The report also revealed significant change in movement pattern of elephants in Angul, Rourkela and Baripada circle.

A total of 403 elephant deaths during the last five years have been within the range of 3% to 4.5% of the total population, the least being during the last financial year of 2023-24.

The state reported 66 elephant deaths in last one year, while the forest department has decided to introduce Artificial intelligence (AI) facility to keep a close watch on the movement of the elephants in Angul and Dhenkanal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife Susanta Nanda said.

He said a counting of elephants will be conducted between November 15 and 17 as elephants visit the state during the winter period.