2017 Elephant Census: Odisha records rise in elephant population

Bhubaneswar: The population of elephants in Odisha has increased marginally to 1976 this year from 1,954 recorded in 2015 census, said Forest and Environment minister Bijayshree Routray on Monday.

According to the 2017 Elephant Census report, the population of the elephants increased by 22 in the state as against the 2015 census.

As per the census, 344 are male elephants while 1,092 are female elephants. There are 502 young elephants in the state. The forest department could not identify the sex of 38 elephants.

In three elephant reserves -Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur-1536 elephants were enumerated, which account 77.73 per cent of the total elephant population in the state.

Five other sanctuaries have an elephant population of 79. Besides, 361 elephants were enumerated outside elephant reserves and sanctuaries.

Compared to 2015, the male population is up by three. However, the number of female elephants has decreased by four. The number of young elephants has gone up by 12, said the census report.

The presence of elephants was recorded in 37 forest and wildlife divisions out of 44 where field officials were spread out to track the big mammal this year.