Bhubaneswar: Human–elephant conflict continues to be a pressing challenge in Odisha, with 151 elephants and 646 people losing their lives in the last five years, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia informed the State Assembly on Tuesday.
Responding to a question raised by BJP MLA from Bangriposi Sanjali Murmu, the Minister stated that elephants naturally migrate from forest to forest in search of food and water. During this movement, he said, herds often stray into human habitations located close to forested areas.
“When elephants come face-to-face with villages situated near jungle fringes, incidents affecting both life and property occur, leading to conflict,” the Minister explained in his written reply.
Odisha, known for its significant elephant population and large forested landscape, has been witnessing increasing pressure on both wildlife and communities due to shrinking habitats, changing land-use patterns, and human expansion around forest zones. The casualties reported underscore the continuing strain between conservation needs and human safety.
The state government is currently implementing various mitigation measures—including early warning systems, awareness campaigns, habitat improvement, and rapid response teams—to reduce conflict incidents and protect both human communities and wildlife.
