Odisha Records 45 Human and 9 Elephant Deaths Amid Rising Human-Animal Conflicts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has witnessed 45 human fatalities and nine elephant deaths in the last five months due to escalating human-animal conflicts, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly on Tuesday.

In a written reply to Kantamal MLA Kanhai Charan Danga, the minister stated that between April 1 and September 15, 2025, seven elephants died due to electrocution, one was killed in a train accident, and another succumbed to poaching.

To prevent further deaths, the Forest Department, in coordination with the Energy Department, has implemented a range of safety measures in sensitive areas. These include covering exposed electric wires, bending iron spikes on poles, erecting fences around transformers, maintaining hanging wires at safe heights, temporarily cutting off electricity when elephants enter villages, and installing barriers in poaching-prone regions.

Both departments are also conducting extensive awareness campaigns to educate local communities on coexistence and safety.