BHUBANESWAR: Despite claiming to have taken several steps to stop poaching of jumbos in the State, at least 35 elephants have been killed by poachers in Odisha since 2010-11.
The Minister said 402 elephants died in Odisha from 2010-11 to 2015-16. While 15 elephants were killed due to poisoning, 38 died because of deliberate electrocution during the period. Besides, 26 elephants died due to accidental electrocution while 16 were killed in train and road accidents.
While highest 10 elephants fell prey to poachers in 2013-14, at least three jumbos were killed by poachers till December 2 this year, Arukha said.
Similarly, 37 elephants have died due to natural causes like infighting and falling from hill tops during the same period, he said and added that reasons for the death of 85 elephants were not yet known. While 61 elephants died natural deaths from 2010-11 till December 2, 2015, 89 jumbos died of different diseases, he said.
Similarly, in a span of six years till November, 2015, the Minister said 345 people were killed and 161 injured after being attacked by elephants. He said there are 1,954 elephants in the State as per the 2015 census.