In a tragic incident, a female elephant died after reportedly coming in contact with a live electric wire in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha on Saturday, around 140km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.

The elephant was about 10 years old. During the last fortnight, as many as four elephants died of electrocution, raising serious concern about their safety.The incident was reported from the Hindol forest range of the Dhenkanal district. Getting information about the death of the elephant on Saturday morning, forest officials rushed to the spot and found a live electric wire.

They also found the body of a wild boar nearby.Sources said the poachers had laid the live wire to hunt wild boars and the elephant came in contact with it and died on the spot.A three-member team from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change visited the state last week and interacted with the officials to find ways to reduce the number of elephant deaths and minimise animal-human conflict in the state.

As per the state government reports, at least 80 elephants die every year in the state which has lost as many as 935 elephants between 2011-12 to 2021-22. The highest number of elephant deaths (86) was reported in 2021. It has raised serious questions about the state’s elephant conservation plan.

As per the Assembly reports, out of 935 elephants killed during the period (2011-12 to 2021-22), 141 were killed in accidents and 135 died due to electrocution. Similarly, 307 elephants succumbed to diseases. Poachers killed as many as 48 elephants, while 119 died of natural causes. The reasons for the death of another 131 elephants are yet to be ascertained. Besides, out of 741 elephant electrocution deaths reported in the country in 10 years till December 2020, a maximum number of 133 deaths were reported from Odisha.