Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 -- Odisha is home to 2,103 wild elephants, according to the findings of a wildlife census carried out by the Forest Department in November 2024, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the State Assembly today.
Replying to a question of BJD legislator Ranendra Pratap Swain, the Minister said the census was conducted across multiple forest divisions, confirming the extensive presence of elephants in both northern and central Odisha.
He noted that the updated data is vital for shaping future conservation strategies and tackling the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict in several districts.
Providing details on domesticated elephants, Singhkhuntia informed that 21 elepha...