There were 55 tiger deaths in Odisha over a span of 10 years, raising concerns.
The deaths of tigers were caused by a variety of factors, including poaching, electrocution, and accidents. In addition to the tigers, 2,869 wild animals were killed during the same time period. There were also 1,145 human fatalities due to conflicts between people and elephants in the state from 2013 to 2023.
Arpit Pattnaik
In the past decade, Odisha has sadly lost 55 tigers, with 48 leopards and seven Bengal tigers falling victim to various causes such as poaching, electrocution, and accidents. Additionally, a staggering 2,869 wild animals lost their lives in this period. Tragically, there were also 1,145 human casualties due to conflicts with elephants in the state.
In a recent statement to the state Assembly, the forest, environment, and climate change minister, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, shared these concerning figures. He revealed that 23 tigers had fallen prey to poachers, while four died from electrocution, two in train accidents, and three in road accidents. Six perished due to reasons such as infighting and drowning, while illness and old age ailments claimed the lives of five tigers each. Additionally, seven tigers died from unknown causes.
Shockingly, the highest number of tiger deaths were recorded in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in the Mayurbhanj district. Despite these losses, the state's tiger census in 2024 reported a total of 27 Bengal Tigers in Odisha, with 24 of them thriving in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. The remaining three were sighted in Keonjhar wildlife division, Parlakhemundi in southern Odisha, and Hirakud Wildlife Division in western Odisha. Notably, the census also revealed the presence of eight Bengal tiger cubs in Similipal.
The state also witnessed distressing elephant fatalities, with 41 falling prey to poachers and 719 succumbing to other causes over the decade. The escalating deaths of both tigers and elephants have raised significant concerns in Odisha.
