Odisha’s forests are facing a significant challenge as the elephant population exceeds the carrying capacity of the state’s wildlife habitats, leading to an alarming rise in human-animal conflicts and elephant fatalities. A senior forest official made this revelation during a press briefing, emphasizing the dire need for conservation and management measures.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, highlighted the findings of a recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. The study indicates that Odisha’s forests can sustainably support a maximum of 1,700 elephants. However, the state currently houses nearly 2,100 elephants, surpassing this limit by approximately 400.

“The overcrowding of elephants in Odisha’s forests has resulted in a scarcity of essential resources like food, habitat, and water for these additional 400 elephants,” Nanda explained. “This resource shortage forces elephants to venture into human settlements, escalating the frequency of human-elephant conflicts,” he added.

The surge in such incidents has raised concerns over the safety of both humans and wildlife, calling for urgent intervention to manage the elephant population and minimize conflicts. Officials are exploring potential strategies, including habitat restoration, food and water supply enhancement, and conflict mitigation measures, to address the crisis.

The situation underscores the critical need for a balanced approach to conservation, focusing on sustainable habitat management while ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities.