Bhubaneswar: Deaths of as many as 644 wild animals has been reported in the state in the past three years.

Forest and environment minister Bijoyshree Routray informed this in response to a written question asked by BJP MLA Rabi Narayan Naik on Wednesday.

Routray said 238 elephants, two Royal Bengal Tigers, 14 leopards and 390 tigers had died during the said period because of poaching and other reasons.

During 2015-16, deaths of 113 deer have taken place.

Similarly, 132 deer deaths have occurred in 2016-17. The deer death during 2017-18 was 145. As many as 85 elephants had died in 2015-16.

The number of elephant casualty, however, came down to 75 next year (2016-17) following some intervention and precautionary measures. The number of deaths due to poaching remained the same (two), while the number of deaths due to electrocution came down from 14 to six. There was not a single death of pachyderms in train and road accidents. However, 15 died in other accidents. Anthrax took the toll of as many as 12 elephants, while 23 elephants fell victim to other diseases. The death due to natural reason was only four, while 13 died due to unknown reasons.

During 2017-18, the number of elephant casualties was slightly higher (78). One elephant was killed due to poisoning and nine of electrocution. While two pachyderms were run over by speeding trains, 23 died of other accidents, while there was no death in road accident. Anthrax took the toll of two elephants and other diseases 23. Four died of natural death, while death of twelve elephants was due to unknown reasons.

The death of a Royal Bengal tiger each was reported in 2016-17 and 2017-18, while there was no casualty of RBT in 2015-16. The cause of death in both the cases was other accidents.

Eight leopards died in 2015-16. The casualty was reduced to four the next year (two-poaching, one-electrocution and one in accident). During 2017-18, two leopards were killed by poachers.

The minister said the proposal for establishment of a special court for speedy trial of wildlife offences, engagement of retired defence personnel under a special squad and institution of an award of Rs 50,000 for informants about the poachers was under active consideration of the government, In the past five years, 2,454 poachers have been arrested, he said.