Human deaths in encounter with elephants in Odisha, a cause of concern, says WSO

Wildlife experts expressed concerns over steep rise in human lives in human-elephant conflict in Odisha with the State losing 171 lives in 2024-25 – highest in the country.

According to study conducted by Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), an environmental pressure group, the State topped human deaths in 2024-25 with 171 deaths, followed by Jharkhand (87), West Bengal (53), Assam (74) and Tamil Nadu (61).

“Over the last five years 2019-2024 Odisha recorded the highest cumulative death of 624 deaths across India revealing the extremely high levels of conflict,” said Biswajit Mohanty. WSO Secretary and former member of National Biodiversity Board, on Friday.

According to “Status of Elephants in India: DNA based synchronous all India population estimation of elephants” (2025) census carried out by Wildlife Institute of India, Odisha has 912 elephants, compared to Karnataka’s 6,013, Assam’s 4,159, Kerala’s 2,785 and Tamil Nadu’s 3,136. Uttarkhand (1,792), West Bengal (707) and Chattisgarh (451). 

“Since 2019-20, human kills by elephants in Odisha rose sharply crossing 115. Since then, it has been on the rise consistently crossing reaching all time high of 171 in 2024-25,” he said. 

As per WSO estimation, February 10, 2026, the highest human kills in Odisha has been recorded in Dhenkanal district (24) followed by Keonjhar (28), Mayurbhanj(15), Angul (13), Sundergarh (12) , Deogarh (5) in 2025-26.  

“Human kills per 100 elephants for 2024-25 is 17 for Odisha which is highest in India compared to only 1 per 100 elephants in Karnataka. Despite this shocking situation it seems the government has turned into a silent watcher as families lose their bread winner,” informed Mr. Mohanty.

Recently, three women were killed and three women injured by a tusker while they were collecting firewood near Kapilash wildlife sanctuary.

The WSO secretary attributed the rise in human-elephant conflict to rise in activities related to mining, industries and new highways and railway traffic across the State.

Situation is especially precarious in Angul and Dhenkanal district. “The Rengali canal network in Angul and Dhenkanal district has disrupted age old movement paths of local elephants sparking off rampant attacks on villages and raids on crop fields leading to  human deaths. Elephants are trapped in small pockets and are forced to climb up steep high incline canal walls,” he pointed out.

According to Mr. Mohanty, there has been a 10 times growth in quarries and industries in Dhenkanal district as per satellite imagery of 2011 vs 2021 which has strong correlation with jump in human deaths.

He further pointed out that elephant movement in corridors is severely affected as they are degraded by quarrying and development.

“Forest department did not notify 14 corridors them though a decision was taken by then Chief Minister in 2012,” alleged WSO secretary.