2832 Wild Animals Died In 5 Yrs (Bhubaneswar)
2832 Wild Animals Died In 5 Yrs (Bhubaneswar)
Tathya
March 25, 2025
State reported death of 2832 wild animals including tigers and elephants in
five years, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram
Singkhuntia informed Odisha Legislative Assembly 25 March.
In a written reply to a query by BJP lawmaker Padma Lochan Panda, the
Minister said 2832 elephants, tigers and other wild animals died in Odisha
during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (so far), of which 806 wild animals died due to
poaching.
A total of 4043 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in
killing of the wild animals during the five years, he said.
As per the data provided by the minister, highest wild animal deaths were
reported in Dhenkanal forest division. As many as 318 wild animals died in
the division during the five years.
Similarly, death of 197 wild animals were reported in Athagarh forest
division, followed by Angul (151), Keonjhar (129), Balasore wildlife (117)
Nayagarh (113), Chilika wildlife (103), and Keonjhar wildlife (102).
Out of 806 wild animals killed by poachers, 75 such deaths were reported in
Dhenkanal forest division while 63 animals were poached in Nayagarh
division, 55 in each of Athamallik & Similipal South wildlife divisions,
Shri Khuntia said.
The other forest divisions accounts for higher number of poaching deaths
during the period includes Athagarh (50), Boudh (31), Redhakhol (29),
Keonjhar (29), Cuttack (27), Rajnagarh wildlife (27), and Satkosia wildlife
(26).
Similarly, 799 people were killed and 1962 others were injured in elephant
and other wild animal attacks during the period, he informed.
The Minister further informed the House that the highest 147 persons were
killed by wild animals in the Dhenkanal forest division of the state while
76 persons died due to wild animal attacks in the Angul division during the
five years.
Baripada forest division reported 54 such death cases, which was followed
by Rourkal forest division where 47 individuals died in man-animal
conflicts. Similarly, 45 people who became victims of wild animals died in
the Bonai division, he added.
The State Government has been providing an ex-gratia of Rs 6 lakh to the
next of kin of the person, who died in wild animal attack.