Odisha has registered at least 55 tiger deaths in the last 10 years, informed Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question in the House, the Minister said, “As many as 48 leopards and 7 Royal Bengal tigers have died in the State in the last ten years.”
While 25 big cats died due to poaching, electrocution claimed four tigers’ lives in the State, the Minister informed adding that five tigers killed in accidents and six died due to drowning.
In August, Singhkhuntia had also informed the House that over 2850 wild animals were poached in Odisha in the last 10 years.
“2869 wild animals including tigers, bears, deers and elephants were poached during the last 10 years in Odisha and 6960 poachers have been arrested,” Singhkhuntia had said in the Assembly.