Pradhan seeks Centre’s help to resolve man-elephant conflicts

Bhubaneswar: Worried over the increasing number of elephant deaths in the state, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday urged the Union environment, forest and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav to intervene and ensure harmonious co-existence between elephants and humans in the state.
“I am writing to you with deep concern over the escalating number of elephant deaths, and strained elephant-human conflict in the state of Odisha. Over the past decade, Odisha has witnessed the loss of 784 elephants, with 245 of these deaths taking place in the last three years alone,” Pradhan wrote to Yadav.
Pradhan said most of the deaths are due to poaching, electrocution, or train/road accidents. March this year has been particularly devastating, with seven elephant deaths being reported, the highest in the past three years, he said.
Recently, it was also noted in the State Legislative Assembly that altogether 2,776 wild animals have been killed in the past years (2017-18 to 2021-22) in Odisha, including 416 elephants. It is also worth mentioning that 669 people and 741 domestic animals died, and 9,151 houses were damaged in elephant attacks, Pradhan wrote.
In the letter Pradhan said, elephant conservation is of paramount importance to Odisha, as these majestic animals are an integral part of our ecological balance, cultural heritage, and the state’s identity. “The well-being of these creatures is essential for maintaining the health of our forests and the livelihood of local communities that rely on them,” he said.
The Union education minister also hailed that the central government’s efforts in expanding the Protected Area Network and launching of Project Elephant have set a strong foundation for the protection of these gentle giants. “Considering the critical situation in Odisha, we believe that the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change’s intervention is vital. I request you to take immediate action in addressing this pressing issue to ensure the harmonious co-existence of humans and elephants in Odisha. I look forward to your prompt intervention,” Pradhan added.