Spike in tusk seizures hints at rampant poaching in forests across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Data compiled by the state wildlife headquarters has revealed seizure of as many as 117 elephant tusks from various divisions from 2020-21 to Feb 2026, exposing rampant poaching in the state.

The numbers suggest that the forest department seized 25 tusks in both 2020-21 and 2023-24, though it rose to 29, the highest, in 2024-25. In the last financial year (up to Feb 2025-26), 23 tusks were seized as against nine and six tusks in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively.

Wildlife experts and some department insiders strongly believe poaching to be the most obvious reason since tusk is involved. Tribal-dominated Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts are major contributors to tusk seizures with the former reporting 16, while Baripada division (under Mayurbhanj) accounted for 14. Moreover, Similipal Tiger Reserve’s south and north divisions reported seizure of four and two tusks, respectively, while Karanjia reported 12 cases. A senior wildlife officer, currently serving an important habitat, said on condition of anonymity that regular staff have failed to ensure protection of elephants. “Like the Special Tiger Protection Force, a similar dedicated force is needed to curb elephant poaching because poachers involved are very tough and their method is quite professional,” he told TOI.

“Similipal biosphere’s larger area also includes other smaller divisions, including that of two inside it (Similipal south and north). Rampant poaching could be attributed as to why so many elephant tusks are found from possession of the inhabitants,” said wildlife activist Prakash Jena. To collaborate the logic, Jena presented data that how the 2017 elephant census conducted by the Centre put the elephant count in Similipal landscape was 330. But in the 2024 census, it came down to 204, a drastic fall, although the drop is not directly proportional to poaching only. “Besides poaching, habitat loss, dispersions and corridor distortions are reasons. But tusks are all related to poaching,” he observed.

Wildlife campaigner Biswajit Mohanty said if 117 tusks had been seized, it could be inferred that at least 58 elephants were poached, with one male elephant possessing two tusks.