Bhubaneswar: Efforts are on to ensure better co-ordination between forest and energy department officials to check instances of elephants falling prey to high-tension wires.

At least 50 elephants have been killed in the past five years after coming in contact with sagging overhead power lines in various parts of the state.

"It is a disturbing trend. Better co-ordination between the forest and energy officials is the only way we can bring down the number of such accidents," said an official of the forest department's wildlife wing.

Statistics show 393 elephants have died in the state in the past five years, most of them falling prey to poaching and electrocution by high-tension wires.

Some of these electrocutions have been deliberate with either poachers or people, angry at the animals destroying crops, pulling down live wires in open fields and forests to kill elephants.

In June, two elephants had been electrocuted in the Borapada forest under Kapilas range of the Dhenkanal forest division. Two forest officials were suspended in connection with the incident and a show-cause notice was issued to the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu), which is responsible for power supply in the area.

In November 2015, two female elephants had been electrocuted in Sonepur. The incident had taken place in the Tithipali reserve forest where someone had charged the solar fencing with electric current. The two jumbos had possibly strayed into the forest area and came in contact with the fencing.

Sources said efforts were also being made to ensure proper co-ordination between forest and railway officials to prevent accidents involving elephants on railway tracks. In 2012, six elephants, including two calves, had been run over by a train in Ganjam district, triggering outrage among wildlife activists.

"Such accidents take place only because of the lack of communication and co-ordination between the forest and railway officials. If they exchange information about the movement of elephants in areas close to railway tracks regularly, such accidents can be prevented," said Rajeswar Patra, a wildlife enthusiast.

Forest officials said steps in this direction had already been initiated and results would follow.