By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Deaths of elephants in Tikarpada and Pampasar forest
ranges under Angul Wildlife Division have once again raised serious question on
safety of these animals in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. The elephants are
regarded by wildlife experts, environmentalists and nature lovers as important species
for maintaining the ecological balance as they act as agents for dispersing
seeds and shaping the biodiversity. But, unfortunately these mammals are not
safe in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district in Odisha.
Causes Of Death:
One of the primary threats to elephant safety in Satkosia is electrocution. Reports said over fifty elephants have lost their lives due to electrocution in Odisha that occurred between 2014 and 2025. One can recall the horrible incident in 2018 at Kamalanga village in Dhenkanal district where seven elephants died after coming in contact with high tension 11 kV electric line. Although Odisha government has spent crores of rupees on revival of elephant corridors in different parts of the state including Satkosia, much headway has not been achieved in this regard to considerably reduce deaths due to electrocution.
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| Bamboo forest declining in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary |
Scarcity Of Food:
The staple food of elephants is bamboo. Bamboo species are on the decline in Satkosia over the years and one would hardly find a large patch of bamboo forest in the wildlife sanctuary in the present day. The loss of staple food along with habitat degradation have impacted on the decline of pachyderm, wildlife activists said. The activists said shortage of bamboo species have forced the elephants to roam in villages close to forest in search of food. Shortage of mango and jackfruit trees are also attributed to be the other reason for the elephants to look for food in nearby villages. However, no forest official including Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Angul Wildlife Division, do not agree with the fact that the sanctuary has dwindling reserve of staple food like bamboo for elephants. The officials maintained that they have taken up bamboo plantation in some parts of Satkosia. They, however, said that the deciduous nature of Satkosia forest has also forced the elephants to go elsewhere in search of food occasionally.
Poor Patrolling:
Inadequate patrolling, mostly during night, is one of the causes why so many electrocution deaths occur in Satkosia forest under Angul Wildlife Division in Odisha. The other factor, what the wildlife activists said, is gross violation of accountability among forest officials. There are allegations that the forest officials failed to maintain cohesion with electric department for coordination to minimize electrocution deaths in the sanctuary. Joint patrolling by forest and electrical staff is often irregular and therefore not being able to adequately monitor the movement of elephants in vulnerable zones where high tension overhead electric lines have passed, the social activists said.
Habitat Restoration:
Forest officials in Angul Wildlife Division maintained that afforestation projects have been taken up in different regions of Satkosia to grow natural forest cover as part of the effort for habitat restoration. But, wildlife activists who are working for conservation of biodiversity in Satkosia said the afforestation projects with plantations are not taken extensively and added that habitat restoration in Satkosia could not be possible with such small scale programmes. They alleged that nothing fruitful has been done to prevent deaths of elephants due to electrocution. The first and foremost task is to prevent electrocution but the department seems to be little concerned over the matter, the activists alleged.
Call To Action:
The Wildlife Division must take long term measures for conservation of natural habitats of elephants in Satkosia by raising bamboo forest and fruit bearing trees like mango and jackfruit. Plantation should not be done for raising trees which are commercially viable. Natural forests with species like bamboo will be beneficial for the jumbos who will not face shortage of food in the future. But, to counter the immediate threat of electrocution, the department must urge the local electric wing to replace the existing overhead wires with insulation passing over elephant corridors for safety of the animals. The wildlife wing must take up awareness drives in villages in Satkosia and in the peripheral regions to educate people about protection of elephants and such an act will become beneficial for nature. As media plays an important role in advocacy, Satkosia Wildlife Division should work closely with those news outlets which are covering environment, wildlife and nature issues for spreading awareness among the people. They can be of great help to boost the awareness campaigns conducted by the Wildlife Division to provide moral support and authenticity. If such measures are implemented with sincerity and right earnest, then electrocution or poaching of elephants will be a thing of the past and Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife officials in Angul forest division should hope for converting Satkosia as a model conservation center for elephants in India by initiating fruitful measures for reducing mortality rate of the animals. The sooner we understand that the existence of elephants are essential for the ecosystem, the better it will be us and the humanity.
