Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today revealed that there are 2,098 elephants in the State. Angul circle has the highest number of elephants, with 779, followed by Baripada circle with 431 elephants. Berhampur circle has 177 elephants, while Bhubaneswar has 140.
Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh R Singhkhuntia informed the State Assembly that elephants from Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha roam from forest to forest in search of food. Elephants from Jharkhand and West Bengal also enter Odisha and return. Therefore, the damage caused by elephants from these states has not been estimated separately.
In the last three years, 668 people have died due to elephant attacks in the state, while 509 people were injured. Additionally, 139 domestic animals died due to elephant attacks during this period. The elephants have also destroyed 10,259 houses and 73,620.82 acres of crops.
The minister further stated that 14 traditional elephant corridors have been identified, and the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have been directed to undertake special plantation drives with elephant food plants in 86 elephant movement forests.
