Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav to intervene and initiate action in addressing the elephant-human conflict in Odisha.
Expressing grave concern over the escalating number of elephant deaths and straining elephant-human conflict in Odisha, Pradhan in a letter to Yadav requested his immediate intervention in addressing the pressing issue and ensure the harmonious co-existence of humans and elephants.
Odisha, he said has witnessed the loss of 784 elephants of which 245 deaths had occurred during the last three years alone.
Pradhan said the month of March has been devastating as seven elephant deaths, the highest in the past three years, were reported in the month and most of these deaths were due to poaching, electrocution or train/ road accidents.
He said a total of 2776 wild animals have been killed in the past five years (2017-18 to 2021-22) in Odisha including 416 elephants as reported in the State Assembly.
Pradhan said as per the official report 669 people and 741 domestic animals have died and 9151 houses were damaged due to elephant attacks during the last five years in the state.
Stating that 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 Pradhan said is essential for maintaining the health of our forests and the livelihood of local communities that rely on them.
He said the intervention of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate is vital considering the critical situation in Odisha and requested the Union Minister to take immediate action in addressing this problem.
