Sundargarh, July 8 (UDN): A 65-year-old man lost his life after being attacked by a wild tusker in Dimbatola village under the Koida Forest Range in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Wednesday, underscoring the persistent human-elephant conflict in the region.
The deceased has been identified as Jalua Oram. According to local residents, he had spent the previous night at a neighbour’s house out of fear of a tusker that had been frequently roaming the area. While returning to his home early Wednesday morning, he reportedly encountered the elephant, which attacked him. He sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
Forest Department officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. The body was recovered and sent for post-mortem examination, while an inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident has triggered concern among villagers, who alleged that the same tusker has been involved in repeated human-elephant conflict incidents in the Koida forest range over the past several years. Residents claimed that the elephant had earlier been tranquillised and fitted with a radio collar to facilitate real-time monitoring of its movement. However, they questioned the effectiveness of the tracking system, alleging that timely alerts could have helped prevent the tragedy.
Forest officials said they are closely monitoring the movement of the elephant and have intensified patrolling in the area. People living in nearby villages have been advised to remain vigilant and avoid venturing into forest fringes, especially during the early morning and late evening hours when elephant movement is more frequent.
The latest fatality has once again highlighted the need for stronger mitigation measures to address the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict in Odisha’s forested districts, where expanding human settlements and wildlife habitats increasingly overlap.
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