Bhubaneswar, Feb 24: A total of 114 elephants have died in Odisha over the last one and a half years due to various reasons, the state government informed the Assembly. The information was shared by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia while replying to a question raised by MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

Providing details for the period 2024-25 and 2025-26 (up to September), the Minister said the deaths were caused by multiple factors. Electrocution accounted for the highest number at 42 cases, followed by diseases claiming 29 elephants. Natural causes led to 17 deaths, while poaching was responsible for six fatalities. Four elephants were killed in train accidents and three died in retaliatory attacks by humans. Additionally, 13 deaths occurred due to other incidents such as falls, drowning, and infighting.

The Minister further informed that 93 individuals have been arrested in connection with unnatural elephant deaths. He assured the House that the state government has intensified monitoring, anti-poaching drives, and awareness campaigns to prevent human-elephant conflict and ensure better protection of the elephant population in Odisha.

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