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The All-India Elephant Census reported an elephant population of 2,103 in Odisha as of winter 2024. Around the same time, in November, Odisha’s Forest and Environment Minister, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, stated in the State Assembly that in the past three years, elephant attacks have caused 668 human deaths and 509 injuries, making this the highest human-elephant conflict in India.
The alarming state of the tuskers and their conflicts with the local population has sparked major concerns after an elderly couple was recently trampled to death at Kadamali village under the Biswanathpur forest range in Kalahandi district. As per reports, a herd of jumbos first vandalised the couple’s hut while they were asleep before crushing the duo, aged 65 and 70, to death.
Following this, in almost the last 100 days, Odisha has witnessed 14 human fatalities and 5 injuries due to elephant attacks across several districts. The deaths were caused by at least six different elephant herds and solitary tuskers, with incidents occurring across Sundargarh, Khordha, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Kalahandi and Keonjhar.
In 2022-23 alone, 149 people died in elephant encounters. Beyond human casualties, elephant herds have also damaged over 73,620 acres of crops and destroyed 10,259 houses.
ALSO READ: Human-elephant conflicts claimed 668 lives in last 3 yrs in Odisha, informs Minister in Assembly
Following a discussion in the State Assembly in November, the government acknowledged the alarming trends and outlined proposed measures for better elephant tracking, habitat preservation, and compensation for affected families. However, growing public outrage suggests that the existing measures are insufficient.
To highlight this fact, here is a recount of the terror of jumbos in the state:
A Peek into Elephant Attack Cases in 100 Days in Odisha:
October 21: Farmer Trampled in Keonjhar
A farmer, Mahi Mahanta, was trampled to death while guarding his paddy crops at Kusakala village, Keonjhar. A herd of five elephants had entered his field, and when he climbed down from his tree-top watch post to drive them away, one of the elephants fatally attacked him. The incident led to protests as villagers accused officials of mishandling the situation.
ALSO READ: Elephant tramples farmer guarding paddy crops to death in Odisha
November 12: Elderly Man Killed in Sundargarh
A 75-year-old man, Sudhu Badaik, was trampled to death near Hamirpur, Rourkela while relieving himself in the early morning fog. Forest officials later confirmed that the elephant had been separated from its herd.
November 22: Villager Killed in Sambalpur
Purnachandra Dehuri, a resident of Jamaloi village, Padiabahal forest range, was attacked while trying to drive a herd of elephants away from his crops. He was found dead the following morning. This came just days after three elephants were electrocuted in the same district, prompting legal scrutiny.
December 2: Forest Official Killed, Two Injured in Bolangir
A forest department team monitoring an elephant near Bandhanpali, Kantabanji forest range, was attacked. Rupesh Chhatria, a forest tracker, succumbed to injuries, while two others were critically injured and hospitalized.
December 11: Woman Trampled in Angul
Mandiri Sahu, a resident of Patakumunda village, Chhendipada forest area, was killed while heading to a paddy field. The attack sparked local protests demanding increased protection and compensation.
December 15: Two Girls Dragged and Killed in Sundargarh
A wild tusker entered a house in Kantapalli village under Bonai limits, dragging two sleeping girls—aged 12 and 3—outside before trampling them to death. The attack also left several villagers injured.
ALSO READ: Elephant tramples two girls to death after dragging them out of house in Odisha
December 22: Another Death in Sundargarh
A 40-year-old man, Dharani Dhar Patra, was attacked while stepping out of his house in Jakeikela village, Bonai range. The tusker killed him near his doorstep, marking the fourth fatality in 15 days in Sundargarh.
January 11: Property Destruction in Dhenkanal
A herd of eight elephants caused large-scale damage in Kamakhyanagar East Range, Dhenkanal, breaking into homes, destroying rice stocks, and damaging property in Palasa Dangi and Dankaridiha villages.
January 20: Child Killed, Mother Injured in Khordha
A minor divyang boy, Satyaranjan Martha, was trampled to death near Mahatapalla village in Khordha. His mother, Sulochana Martha, was critically injured and later transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to the severity of her injuries. Locals blamed the forest department's negligence for the tragedy.
ALSO READ: Odisha elephants facing shortage of habitat space: PCCF Wildlife
Statewide Elephant Conflict Crisis
Odisha’s Forest and Environment Minister, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia has already addressed the alarming number of human-elephant conflicts in Odisha. However, increasing fatalities warrant the urgent need for better mitigation strategies.
The frequency of human-elephant encounters in Odisha demands urgent policy interventions. Without enhanced elephant corridors, better early warning systems, and improved response mechanisms, such tragedies will likely continue. Additionally, with Odisha’s forests shrinking and elephant habitats deteriorating, long-term coexistence strategies are the only way forward.
