Bhubaneswar, July 3: The elephant census conducted in eastern India in May, the results of which were announced today, revealed an increase in their population in the state by 22 over the past two years.
The census report released by forest minister Bijayshree Routray showed that 1,976 elephants were counted during the 2017 enumeration conducted from May 9 to 12. The number was 1,954 in the 2015 census.
The elephant calf count has gone up by 12, from 490 in 2015 to 502 in 2017. There has been slight growth (three) in the number of male elephants (from 341 in 2015 to 344 in 2017). However, the number of female elephants has declined by four - 1,096 in 2015 to 1,092 now.
The minister said this was the first time that a synchronised elephant census was conducted in the four eastern states of the country - Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bengal.
"Apart from direct sighting, indirect estimation of elephant numbers through dung decay rate method was carried out this time. The raw data were supplied to Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, for computation of the final figure," he said.
According to official data available in September last year, 393 elephants died in the past five years. Deaths of the animals because of poaching and electrocution have been a matter of concern for wildlife conservationists and the state government.
In June, two officials of the Dhenkanal forest division were suspended after three elephants were electrocuted in the area.
Principal chief conservator of forests S.S. Srivastav said: "Steps have been initiated to prevent poaching. Besides, forest and electricity departments are working in tandem to prevent electrocution of elephants."
The recent elephant census data revealed that out of the total 1,976 elephants, 1,536 (77.73 per cent) were sighted in seven sanctuaries under three elephant reserves (Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur). Another 79 (3.99 per cent) were seen in five other sanctuaries. So, 81.72 per cent elephants of the state were counted in elephant reserves and sanctuaries.
The remaining 361 elephants (18.28 per cent) were found outside the elephant reserves and sanctuaries. In the 2015 census, 402 elephants were found outside the protected areas.
Official sources said for the 2017 census, 1,949 census units were created and 5,847 persons were engaged. Besides, wildlife enthusiasts, voluntary organisations, research scholars and academics also took part.
Fatal accident
One person died and 35 others were injured after a private bus overturned at Rairakhol of Sambalpur district on Monday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Bhima Bhoi, hailing from Masinapalli village in Birmaharajpur police limits in Sonepur district. Police said the driver of the bus, which was heading for Rairakhol from Birmaharajpur, lost control over the wheels, following which it turned turtle killing Bhoi on the spot.
