Wildlife Woes: Odisha's Alarming Rate of Tiger and Leopard Deaths

Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia reported that 55 tigers and numerous leopards died in the state over the last decade due to poaching, accidents, and natural causes. While no tigers were relocated outside Odisha, the state also saw a concerning number of elephant deaths and human fatalities from elephant attacks.

Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia disclosed a troubling statistic in the Assembly on Tuesday: 55 tigers have died in the state in the last 10 years.

According to Singkhuntia, the deaths of these tigers, along with 48 leopards, were reported between the financial years 2014-15 and 2023-24. The causes of death range from poaching and accidents to natural causes.

The minister provided additional details, stating that two Royal Bengal Tigers died due to poaching, three in accidents including drowning and infighting, one from natural causes, and one unknown case. Among the leopards, 21 died due to poaching, four from electrocution, and others from various accidents and natural causes.

Singkhuntia also noted the state's efforts to increase the tiger population by bringing two Royal Bengal Tigers from Madhya Pradesh. However, no tigers were translocated out of Odisha during this period.

The minister revealed that, based on the latest state-level tiger estimation in 2024, 27 tigers were found in Odisha, primarily in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. Additionally, a staggering 760 elephant deaths were recorded in the state over the past 11 years, with 41 attributed to poaching.

(With inputs from agencies.)