Bhubaneswar: The State recorded over 5.20 lakh dog bite cases during January 2023 to October 2024, according to data provided by Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik in the Assembly today.
In a written reply to a question of Congress MLA Kadraka Appala Swamy, the Minister said that a total of 5,20,237 dog bite cases were reported in Odisha during the period. This means stray canines or domesticated ones have targeted an average 777 individuals every day.
In terms of the absolute number of cases, 2,59,107 dog bite cases were reported during 2023 while 2,43,565 such cases were recorded during January to October of 2024.
As per the Minister’s statement, the maximum number of such cases of 33,547, 32,561 and 29,801 were reported during the months of January, February and March of 2024, respectively.
Odisha has a large population of stray dogs, with the 2019 Livestock Census reporting 17.34 lakh stray dogs.
In accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rule, 2023, the municipalities and urban local bodies (ULBs) are implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme through the organizations, which got project recognition certificates from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the minister said in his reply.
Shri Mallik further informed that 4605 stray dogs were sterilized in eight urban areas of Odisha during the financial year 2022-23.