Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, has called for a comprehensive and unified action plan involving multiple government departments to address the state’s escalating human-elephant conflict. The directive came during a state-level workshop focused on mitigating the crisis, which claims hundreds of human and elephant lives and causes extensive agricultural damage annually in the eastern Indian state.
The Chief Minister emphasized that isolated efforts by the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department are insufficient. He mandated the creation of a joint committee with officials from the Home, Energy, Revenue, and Panchayati Raj departments to develop cohesive and effective mitigation strategies.
“The protection of both human lives and our elephant population is a state priority,” Majhi stated during the workshop, according to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office. “A piecemeal approach will not work. We need coordinated action to ensure a sustainable solution.”
The Escalating Crisis in Odisha
The call for urgent action is driven by stark statistics that paint a grim picture of the human-elephant conflict in Odisha. The state, which is home to a significant portion of India’s elephant population, has become a major hotspot for fatal encounters between humans and the giant herbivores.
According to data from the Odisha Forest Department, over 1,500 people and more than 1,700 elephants have died in the state over the last two decades. Recent years have shown little sign of improvement. Between 2021 and 2024 alone, the conflict resulted in the deaths of 389 people and 273 elephants. Electrocution, poaching, road accidents, and retaliatory killings are among the leading causes of elephant mortality.
For rural communities, the economic toll is equally devastating. Elephants are frequently drawn to agricultural fields, leading to widespread crop destruction and damage to property, which fuels local resentment and complicates wildlife conservation efforts.
Root Causes and Complex Challenges
Wildlife experts point to habitat fragmentation as the primary driver of the conflict. Rapid industrialization, extensive mining operations, and the expansion of infrastructure like roads and railways have shrunk and divided traditional elephant corridors. These corridors are vital for the animals’ movement between forested areas in search of food and water.
“When their natural pathways are blocked, elephants are inevitably forced into human-dominated landscapes, including villages and farmlands,” said Dr. Anish Andheria, a conservation biologist and President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT). “This is not an animal problem; it is a land-use management problem.”
The government’s proposed multi-departmental approach aims to tackle these interconnected issues:
- Energy Department: Tasked with insulating high-voltage power lines and exploring underground cabling in critical elephant movement zones to prevent accidental electrocutions, a major cause of elephant deaths.
- Revenue and Disaster Management Department: Directed to streamline and expedite the process for compensating villagers for crop and property damage, a key factor in reducing retaliatory actions against elephants.
- Home Department: Will coordinate with police forces to crack down on poaching rings and the illegal ivory trade.
- Panchayati Raj Department: Responsible for mobilizing local communities and village-level institutions to participate in awareness campaigns and early warning systems.
The Path Forward: Technology and Community
In addition to inter-departmental synergy, officials at the workshop highlighted the role of technology in future mitigation strategies. The state plans to scale up the use of AI-powered early warning systems, which use thermal imaging and acoustic sensors to alert villagers of approaching elephants via SMS. The use of drones for real-time monitoring of herds is also being expanded.
However, conservationists stress that technology must be paired with community engagement. The success of programs like the deployment of “Gaja Saathis” (Friends of Elephants)—local volunteers trained to track elephant movement and facilitate safe passage—underscores the importance of local involvement.
The new committee is expected to draft a detailed, long-term action plan within the coming months. The plan will focus on securing and restoring elephant habitats, strengthening anti-poaching measures, and ensuring that economic development projects are planned with wildlife corridors in mind.
A senior official from the Forest Department, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed that the committee’s first meeting is scheduled for next week. “The Chief Minister has given a clear mandate,” the official said. “The goal is to create a framework where development, human welfare, and wildlife conservation can coexist.”
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FAQ
1. Why is human-elephant conflict so severe in Odisha? The conflict is primarily driven by the fragmentation and degradation of elephant habitats due to mining, industrial development, and urban expansion. This forces elephants to venture into human settlements and agricultural lands in search of food and water, leading to direct confrontations.
2. What are the main causes of elephant deaths in the state? According to official reports, the leading unnatural causes of elephant deaths in Odisha are electrocution from sagging power lines and electric fences, poaching for ivory, train and road accidents, and retaliatory killings by poisoning.
3. What is the government doing to help victims of the conflict? The Odisha government provides financial compensation (ex gratia) to the families of people killed or injured by elephants. It also offers compensation for crop and property damage, though the process has faced criticism for delays, which the newly proposed strategy aims to address.
