Odisha home to over 2k elephants, 743 dolphins, 27 tigers: Minister in Assembly

Odisha is home to over 2,000 elephants and 27 tigers, informed the State Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Khuntia in the Assembly on Tuesday.

According to data provided by the Minister, Odisha is home to 2,098 elephants and 27 tigers. As per the latest census, Odisha also has 1,850 saltwater crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika region, 97 in Satkosia, 76 in Similipal, and 84 marsh crocodiles in the Ghodahad Dam. The data provided by the minister also revealed that the Mahanadi River is home to 14 gharials, a rare and endangered species of crocodiles.  

Apart from being a famous tourist spot, Chilika Lake is home to a considerable number of wildlife species. It hosts ten lakh ninety-nine thousand migratory birds of 108 different species. Chilika and the coastal belts of Odisha have a Dolphin population of 743.

According to reports, in the efforts to safeguard these wildlife species from natural calamities like storms, floods, and coastal erosion, the State has created 1,234 hectares of mangrove forest and 226 hectares of Casuarina forest in the last 3 years.

In his reply to the Assembly, the Forest and Environment Minister said that for the 2024-25 financial year plans are afoot to create 72 hectares of Casuarina forest along the coast.