Odisha Hosts Global Workshop On Human-elephant Coexistence

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated an international workshop on human-elephant coexistence, stressing the urgent need for joint efforts to address rising conflicts between people and elephants amid rapid urbanisation and shrinking habitats.

The two-day event brought together over 150 participants, including conservationists, policymakers, scientists, researchers, representatives from elephant-range countries across Asia, officials from India’s elephant-rich states, international organisations, and senior officers of the state forest department.

Deliberations at the workshop centred on long-term strategies for peaceful coexistence and the sharing of global best practices.

Highlighting Odisha’s unique role, the Chief Minister said, “Our state is home to nearly 2,100 elephants and ranks number one in terms of elephant corridors. But with growing urbanisation, human-elephant conflict has unfortunately escalated.”

He underscored the cultural and spiritual ties Odisha shares with elephants. “Odisha has a historic and sacred coexistence with elephants. In our culture, Mahaprabhu Lord Jagannath has a ‘Hati Besa.’ The king of Puri is revered as the ‘Gajapati.’ This reflects the deep respect our state holds for elephants. Protecting their lives today is of immense importance,” Majhi noted.

Outlining state initiatives, he said measures such as creating water bodies inside forests, strengthening Van Suraksha Samitis and the Gajasaathi volunteer network, and deploying dedicated elephant squads and rapid response teams in vulnerable areas are already underway. He added that compensation to victims’ families is being expedited, while advanced monitoring tools—GPS tracking, radio collars, and AI-powered cameras—are being deployed to track elephant movements.

A key highlight of the workshop was the announcement of the ‘Centre for Species Survival – Asian Elephant,’ the world’s first institution dedicated exclusively to elephant conservation, set up at Chandaka Godibari near Bhubaneswar.

Developed in collaboration with international conservation partners, the centre will focus on research, monitoring, and strategies to safeguard elephants in their natural habitats while reducing instances of straying into human settlements.