Elephant mortality rises in Orissa

The Hindu
February 16, 2009


Bhubaneswar (PTI): A failure to restore elephant corridors affected due to development activities and non-implementation of vital schemes seem to have increased pachyderm deaths in Orissa.
The rate of elephant deaths which was 32 per year during 1990-2003, increased to 56 per year during 2003-2008 in the state, according to a recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the state assembly.
Although elephant population has risen in Orissa from 1,841 in 2002 to 1,862 in 2007, as many as 280 pachyderms died due to various reasons during the period, it said.
"Despite Government of India's request in June 2002, the state government did not prepare any prospective plan and the scheme was being implemented through ad hoc annual plan affecting systematic management of elephant reserve," it said.

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