Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: As many as 256 elephants died in Odisha during the last three years, including 13 deaths attributed to poaching, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday.

In a written reply to a question by Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasad Nayak, the minister said 32 persons had been arrested in connection with elephant poaching cases between 2023-24 and 2025-26.

The minister said the state government has undertaken several measures to prevent unnatural elephant deaths and strengthen protection of the animals and their habitats. These include habitat protection and enrichment, plantation of food-bearing trees, development of grazing areas and creation of artificial water bodies to improve the availability of food and water.

The government is also strengthening measures to protect elephant habitats from forest fires and curb poaching through anti-poaching camps, regular patrolling and technology-based monitoring.

Anti-depredation and anti-poaching squads are being deployed in vulnerable areas to reduce human-elephant conflict and check illegal activities.

The Forest Department is also coordinating with departments such as Energy, Railways, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, and Water Resources to address factors contributing to elephant deaths and human-elephant conflict.

Meanwhile, awareness programmes are being conducted among local communities to promote elephant conservation and encourage safer coexistence between people and wildlife.

The measures are aimed at improving habitat management, strengthening enforcement and reducing elephant mortality across Odisha. Recent assessments have also highlighted the continuing impact of human activity and infrastructure on elephant mortality in the state.

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