Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Over the past seven years, there has been a little growth in the elephant population in Odisha. The All Odisha Elephant Census-2024, which took place in 48 Forest divisions across 28 districts from May 22 to 24, this year, yielded results. Compared to the previous elephant census, which took place in 2017, which counted 1976 elephants, a total of 2098 elephants were counted in 38 Forest divisions. In the previous seven years, there has been an increase of 122 elephants.
“After 7 years this year, we have sighted a total of 2098 elephants in 38 divisions of our state. These are the minimum, there might be more. The sightings of these elephants have been video graphed or photographed with GPS coordinates so that there is no duplication. In the last elephant census in 2017 there were 1976 elephants,” revealed Susant Nanda, PCCF (Wildlife) addressing a presser here today.
Nanda informed that the male tusker ratio vis-a-vis females is very good.
“While there were 344 tuskers vis-a-vis 1092 females in 2017, now there are 474 vis-a-vis 1030 females. In Angul and Sambalpur area there are 1 tusker: 1 female cow which is a very good sex ratio for the elephant population to grow,” he added.
The PCCF (Wildlife) further informed that in winter when paddy crop is harvested, elephants come from adjoining areas.
“So we have kept November 14, 15 and 16 to ascertain how many elephants are using Odisha landscape. Around 100-150 elephants from adjoining States come to Odisha during this time,” the PCCF (Wildlife) added.
