Daspalla: (Subash chandra Barik):  Forest officials, schoolchildren, and local communities in Banigochha, Odisha, actively observed World Elephant Day today. The event highlighted the critical threats facing Odisha's elephants and the growing conflict between humans and these majestic animals. 
Banigochha Fights for Odisha Elephants on World Elephant Day


Organised by the Banigochha (West) Wildlife Division under the leadership of its Forest Range Officer, the day began with a powerful demonstration. School students marched through Banigochha village holding placards. They chanted slogans demanding better protection for elephants, raising awareness among residents.
The core message was urgent: Odisha's elephants face severe danger daily. Deaths occur frequently across the state. Elephants are increasingly straying from the Mahanadi Wildlife Sanctuary into nearby villages. This movement often leads them to damage precious crops belonging to indigenous farmers, causing significant hardship. Simultaneously, the elephants themselves face life-threatening risks in human-dominated areas.
Officials stressed that multiple factors drive this crisis and cause elephant numbers to decline:
  • Habitat Loss: Forests, the elephants' natural homes, are shrinking due to logging, mining, and industrial projects.
  • Fragmented Corridors: Vital pathways elephants use for movement are disrupted by new power lines and development.
  • Poaching: Illegal hunting remains a persistent threat.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict: Encounters near villages often turn deadly for both elephants and people.
World Elephant Day, celebrated globally every August 12th since 2012, aims to reverse this decline. It focuses on boosting elephant populations and ensuring their long-term safety through coordinated efforts.
The Banigochha event saw participation from Forest Range Officers, forest guards, wildlife trackers, anti-poaching staff, and other key personnel. Alongside the awareness march, the forest department actively conducts year-round community programs across local indigenous villages within the Buguda Forest Section. These initiatives, led by Section Forest Officers, include:
Village Resource Protection Committees: Empowering communities to manage resources sustainably.
  • Forest Protection: Combating illegal activities and preventing forest fires.
  • Tree Plantation Drives: Restoring crucial elephant habitat.
  • Wildlife Conservation Awareness: Educating locals on peaceful coexistence and elephant safety.
Forest authorities emphasized their continuous commitment. They work diligently to create public awareness about the importance of elephant conservation and the practical steps needed for safety – both for the communities sharing the landscape and for the endangered elephants whose survival hangs in the balance. The message is clear: protecting Odisha's elephants requires urgent action, habitat preservation, and community cooperation to prevent further tragic losses.