Bhubaneswar: Odisha is currently home to a total of 2,103 wild elephants, including 21 in captivity, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the State Assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister Singhkhuntia stated that the elephant count was conducted by Forest Department staff in November 2024. Of the 21 captive elephants, eight are housed in the Chandaka Wildlife Division, three in the Similipal South Wildlife Division, four in Nandankanan Zoological Park, and six in the Dhenkanal Forest Division.
Providing division-wise details, Singhkhuntia noted that the Athagarh Forest Range has 20 elephants, the Badamba Range has 26, the Khuntuni Range has one, Narasinghpur East has 52, and Narasinghpur West has 25 elephants.
The Minister further informed the House that during the 2024–25 financial year, a total of 675 mahouts were temporarily employed for five months across 155 villages in the Athagarh Division to assist with elephant management efforts.
