Cuttack: The Odisha Government on Tuesday revealed that a staggering 26 elephants have died in Cuttack district alone in the last five years.
Responding to a query by BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain in Odisha Assembly, the Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said that the deaths of the pachyderms can be attributed to two main reasons-poaching and disease.
He said that 11 elephants have died by the poachers, while 15 succumbed to illness.
BJD MLA also wanted to know the number of cases registered against the poachers and the measure taken by the government to safeguard the jumbos.
The Minister further informed the House that Athagarh division in Odisha is home to 178 elephants. Narasinghpur North has the highest number, with 81 elephants, followed by Baramba with 49.
Narasinghpur South is home to 29 elephants, while Khuntuni has 11. The Athagarh range has the smallest population, with 8 elephants, Khuntia said.
