The Elephant Graveyard!
Odisha is a crucial habitat for elephants, with an estimated 2,098 elephants, three elephant reserves, and 14 elephant corridors. Elephants in Odisha have a rich history deeply intertwined with the region's culture, religion, and economy, spanning centuries.
Despite this, human activities continue to pose a threat to the elephant population, leading to increased mortality rates. With Odisha recording an all-time yearly high record of 94 elephant deaths in 2024-25 (till 18.3.2025), the state has acquired the dubious distinction of being the elephant graveyard of India.
The current financial year has also recorded the highest number of 31 elephants killed by electrocution all of which were avoidable deaths. Angul forest circle is the most densely populated region of elephants in the state. As per state Forest department’s 2024 Census data, at least 779 elephants, 37 per cent of state’s total population, inhabit the region.
However, human settlements surrounding these forest habitats also makes Angul circle one of the worst conflict- prone regions in the country. To save crops and orchards, farmers have increasingly started using solar fences.But unable to pay for regular maintenance of solar fences, the farmers often charge these barriers with direct current, turning them into a lethal trap for the elephants.
Almost a quarter of India’s coal is produced in Odisha and with the country’s surging demand for fossil fuel,it threatens to put pressure on a large elephant population in Odisha’s coal-belt. Angul is home to one of the most significant elephant populations and sits on Odisha’s richest coal reserves.Angul’s coal blocks are tightly grouped, leaving very little space for transit and movement of the big animals. This region is significant because it is part of Mahanadi Elephant Reserve (ER) and links Sambalpur ER.
The Elephant population in Angul circle is extremely stressed and human-elephant conflict has grown alarmingly. Growing number of industries, linear infrastructure, national highways as well as power lines have already left elephant movement and migration restricted. The fragmented migration corridors have added to their problem. With more coal mines in the offing, the future looks ominous.
If coal mining triggers more displacement of elephants, crop raids and property damage may increase leading to increased use of electrified fences, traps and retaliatory killings.Wildlife conservationist Biswajit Mohanty said that 2024-25 was particularly devastating for elephants with at least 31 elephants dying due to unnatural causses. The unnatural death rate of wild elephants in Odisha over last 9 years was 8.3 % compared to 3.4 % of Assam; the latter has 5,828 elephants compared to 2,098 elephants of former.
As a massive poaching crisis rages across Odisha, we are forced to consider the almost inconceivable—yet unfortunately very real— prospect of a world without wild elephants. Remember "If elephants didn't exist, you couldn't invent one. They belong to a small group of living things so unlikely they challenge credulity and common sense".
(NOTE:pics from internet for illustrative use only)
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