Odisha has witnessed 245 elephant deaths in the last three years, officials said on Wednesday.

Odisha’s forest and environment minister P. K. Amat on Tuesday told the Assembly that of the 245 jumbo deaths, six were killed by poachers.

The minister informed the House that 47 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in killing elephants, smuggling tusks and tiger hides.

A total of 39 tusks, one tiger hide and nine tiger nails were recovered from the accused, he said.

The minister said that no tiger was killed in any Odisha forest during the last three years.

Amat said the state government has set up anti-poaching camps and formed special squads to protect tigers and their habitats.

A report from Balasore district said that at least six pachyderm deaths were reported from Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary this year. One female ailing elephant died on Tuesday.

DFO, Balasore, Sumit Kar, however, claimed that there was no case of poaching of jumbos in the sanctuary in the last two years.

Official sources said that poachers were arrested from Angul, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Keonjhar and Subarnapur districts during the last three years.

The highest of 16 tusks were recovered in Keonjhar district followed by 12 in Mayurbhanj district.