Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 17: A shocking 685 jumbos perished in the state between 2004 and now. Out of this, the reasons for the death of 121 elephants are yet to be known, forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh told the house Tuesday.
Replying to a question of legislator Dilip Ray, Arukh said, “A total of 685 elephants died in the state for various reasons since 2004.” A closer look at the break-up indicates that 89 of these died due to poaching in the last decade.
While 14 were killed by poisoning, 16 died due to train mishaps, 50 due to deliberate electrocution, 52 because of accidental electrocution; 71 due to drowning, infighting, falling from hill tops and into ditches, the minister said.
He stated that 155 elephants died due to diseases while 117 saw natural deaths.
The highest number of casualties occurred in 2010-11 which saw demise of 83 elephants. Eighty-two jumbos died in 2012-13 while 51 died in 2014-15 fiscal. Nearly 660 persons were killed and 272 persons injured due to man-elephant conflict.
He said 2,479 houses were completely destroyed while 5,545 houses partially damaged. “Sixty-six domestic animals died due to elephant attack and crops over 87,403 hectares were destroyed during this decade,” he said, adding the state government provided compensation totalling `43.35crore.
He said several steps were being taken to stop the growing number of elephant casualties in the state. “To stop elephants from entering human habitation, solar system-based fencings have been erected at strategic locations” Arukh said. “To observe the movement of elephants, anti-depredation squads have been formed and elephant trackers installed.
