Odisha’s forests are facing an overcrowding crisis with nearly 2,100 elephants, far exceeding their sustainable population limit of 1,700.
The situation has led to an escalation in human-elephant conflicts and increased mortality among young elephants, according to Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).
Nanda, citing a study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, revealed that the forests lack adequate resources such as food, water, and space to sustain an overpopulation of approximately 400 elephants.
"There is a scarcity of food, habitation, water, and other essential needs for around 400 elephants in the forests. As a result, they move to habitations to meet these needs, which is why human-elephant conflict is also increasing in Odisha," Nanda told reporters on Tuesday.
He further explained that the scarcity has disproportionately affected calves and young elephants, making them highly susceptible to diseases due to nutritional deficiencies.
"Almost 60 per cent of elephant deaths in Odisha were calves and young elephants, which died from diseases," he added.
Despite the challenges, Nanda noted that the state had seen no elephant deaths due to poaching or poisoning this year. However, deaths from electrocution and train accidents remain significant threats.
In response to the crisis, wildlife authorities are considering relocating elephants to the Similipal Tiger Reserve area. Nanda explained that the elephants predominantly inhabit the forests in western and central Odisha, while southern Odisha’s forests are unsuitable for their needs.
"That’s why they are not moving towards there," he stated.
This announcement comes on the heels of an investigation ordered by the forest minister into unnatural elephant deaths in recent months.
The latest elephant census conducted this year recorded a population of 2,098 elephants across 48 forest divisions in 28 districts of Odisha, with no elephants found in 13 divisions.
The census also counted 313 adult tuskers, 13 adult makhnas (tuskless males), 748 adult females, 148 sub-adult males, 282 sub-adult females, 209 juveniles, and 385 calves.
Data from Odisha’s wildlife department indicates that from 2017-18 to the present year, 634 elephants have perished due to causes including electrocution, train and road accidents, diseases, and retaliatory killings.
Of these, 219 deaths were attributed to diseases, while natural causes claimed 117 elephants.
Between April and November of the current year alone, 60 elephants died, with 18 killed by deliberate electrocution, three in accidental electrocution, three in train accidents, 13 from diseases, four in retaliatory killings, and 19 from natural causes.
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