Environmental Concern — Alarming Loss of Elephants in Odisha (≈ 790 in Past Decade)

Odisha’s wildlife conservation efforts are under renewed scrutiny after reports revealed that the state has lost around 790 elephants in the past decade. This staggering figure highlights one of the most severe conservation crises in eastern India, where fragmented habitats, increased human encroachment, and infrastructural pressures are steadily eroding the survival prospects of the state’s elephant population.

Most elephant deaths have been linked to poaching, electrocution, train and road accidents, habitat loss, and human–elephant conflict. Rapid expansion of mining, industrial corridors, linear infrastructure projects, and agricultural encroachments has disrupted traditional elephant corridors, forcing herds into human settlements in search of food and water. This results in crop damage, property loss, and, tragically, frequent fatal encounters for both humans and elephants.

Electrocution—often due to illegal or poorly maintained power lines—remains one of the leading causes of unnatural elephant deaths in Odisha. Poaching for ivory, although reduced compared to earlier decades, continues to pose a threat, especially in border areas with limited patrolling. Train collisions along key railway routes, particularly in the forest belts of Angul, Dhenkanal, and Jharsuguda, have also contributed substantially to casualties.

Conservationists argue that the alarming death toll reflects systemic gaps in forest management, monitoring, and enforcement. Despite the existence of notified elephant corridors, many remain encroached or inadequately protected. They emphasise the need for real-time tracking using radio collars, community-based conflict mitigation, and stricter regulation of power infrastructure in forest fringes.

The state government has initiated measures such as anti-depredation squads, early warning systems, and habitat restoration projects. However, experts maintain that without a comprehensive landscape-level conservation plan, the decline will continue.

The loss of nearly 800 elephants is not merely a statistic—it signals a weakening ecological balance, threatening biodiversity and the cultural heritage of Odisha. Urgent, sustained, and science-driven interventions are essential to prevent further decline and to safeguard one of India’s most iconic species.