elephant attacks in Odisha: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Nov 26: At least 668 people have been killed in elephant attacks in Odisha over the past three years, as informed by Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia in the state Assembly on Tuesday. The minister was responding to a question raised by BJD MLA Sanatan Mahakud. Additionally, 509 individuals have been injured in such attacks during the same period.
The year 2022-2023 alone saw 149 human fatalities due to elephant attacks in the state. Minister Khuntia also highlighted the increasing issue of crop damage and property destruction by elephants, revealing that 73,620 acres of crops and 10,259 houses were damaged by elephant herds during the period.
In another response to BJD MLA Tusharkanti Behera, the minister informed that 40 elephants, 5 leopards, and 200 other wildlife species died between July 1 and November 20, 2024. In connection with these fatalities, 26 arrests have been made in elephant death cases, while 2 forest guards and 1 forester were suspended for dereliction of duty. Similarly, 14 arrests were made concerning leopard deaths.
