Bhubaneswar: To count the exact number of wild elephants in the State, the Forest Department has carried out a fresh All Odisha Elephant Census-2024 (winter) exercise in different forest areas and found 2103 elephants.
The three days winter census exercise was undertaken from November 14 to 16 in 48 forest divisions across 28 districts of the State, a senior forest official said.
A total of 2103 elephants were counted in 38 forest divisions. Those include 334 adult tuskers, 12 adult makhnas, 678 adult females, 186 sub-adult tuskers, 4 sub-adult makhnas, 305 sub-adult females, 181 juveniles and 403 calves.
Evidence of elephant presence was not found in 13 divisions during this winter census.
Last elephant census was carried out in May, 2024 wherein 2098 elephants were counted which included 313 adult tuskers, 13 adult makhnas, 748 adult females, 142 sub-adult tuskers, 6 sub-adult makhnas, 282 sub-adult females, 209 juveniles and 385 calves.
Highest numbers of wild elephants have been found in Dhenkanal (291), Keonjhar (160), Athgarh (124), Deogarh (123) and Angul (117).
There is a marginal increase in elephant numbers in the State during this winter census. But significant increase in the number is noticed in few Divisions, importantly in Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Rourkela, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Athamallik, Ghumsur North, Kalahandi North, Kalahandi South, Bolangir and Rairakhol etc. whereas decrease in elephant number noticed in Similipal North WL, Satkosia WL, Bamra WL and Raygada etc., the official informed.
This change may be due to inter-division and interstate seasonal movement patterns of the elephants during winter months, he said.
Significant increase in elephant population is noticed in Rourkela and Bhawanipatna Circle during the winter census as compared to summer months.
Ratio among male, female and young was 1:2.17:1.25 during summer, 2024. In the winter census, the ratio was 1:1.83:1.08. The change is due to an increase in the number of males in sub adult category in comparison to previous summer census and inter-state movement of adult tuskers and sub-adult tuskers.
Large scale inter-state movement of elephants from Jharkhand and West Bengal has been observed during the winter census whereas few elephants moved from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Odisha.
As per the latest census report, the State now has a large, well established elephant population with a normal age distribution.
As per the census report, 48 elephant death cases were reported between the Summer Census, 2024 and Winter Census, 2024.
The objectives of the elephant census was to have the information on the number of elephants in the State during winter season and to assess the seasonal inter-state and inter-division elephant movement.
The elephant number in the winter season and their movement pattern are the two important factors for assessing the Human Elephant Conflict scenario in the State during the peak harvesting period.
The three days census exercise has followed the traditional method of count by direct sighting. A total of 1376 machans were constructed in 2032 census units across the State.
More than 6000 field staff, biologists, elephant squad persons were engaged in the census exercise. Besides, wildlife enthusiasts, NGOs, Research Scholars, academicians etc. also participated in the census in addition to regular field staff and squad members. More than 50 no of Drones were also engaged for this field exercise.