Elephants population increases in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (UNI) The population of wild elephants in Orissa has shown a marginal rise, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly today.

Replying to a question of Mr D Sibu (Cong), the Chief Minister said the number of pachyderms had increased from 1841 to 1862.

Mr Patnaik said according to census conducted in 2002 and 2007 the number of elephants in Keonjhar district had declined from 112 to 60.

However, elephants population in districts close to Keonjhar had increased.

''The number of elephants increase or decrease as the animals are not confined to a particular place but move from one place to the other,'' Mr Patnaik added.

The Chief Minister said a 35 km long solar charged wire fencing and 36 km long trench had been constructed to protect the elephants and save the crop from being damaged.

At least eight anti-poaching and anti-depredation team had been constituted and they were equipped with bright light, cracker, band and public address system to drive away the elephants to the forest, he added.

UNI