Wildlife experts are alarmed as Odisha reported 171 human deaths due to elephant attacks in 2024-25, the highest in India. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO) says Odisha leads the nation, followed by Jharkhand (87), West Bengal (53), Assam (74), and Tamil Nadu (61). Biswajit Mohanty, WSO Secretary, said, "Over the last five years 2019-2024 Odisha recorded the highest cumulative death of 624 deaths across India revealing the extremely high levels of conflict." Odisha has 912 elephants, far less than Karnataka's 6,013 or Assam's 4,159, yet the human deaths are the highest per 100 elephants at 17, compared to Karnataka’s 1 per 100. Since 2019-20, deaths have risen sharply, reaching an all-time high in 2024-25. Districts most affected include Dhenkanal (24 deaths), Keonjhar (28), Mayurbhanj (15), Angul (13), Sundergarh (12), and Deogarh (5). Mohanty blamed the rise on increased mining, industries, new highways, and railway traffic disrupting elephant corridors. He noted, "The Rengali canal network in Angul and Dhenkanal district has disrupted age old movement paths of local elephants," causing attacks on villages and crop raids. Satellite images show a 10-fold increase in quarries and industries in Dhenkanal between 2011 and 2021. He added, "Forest department did not notify 14 corridors though a decision was taken by then Chief Minister in 2012." Recently, a tusker killed three women and injured three others near Kapilash wildlife sanctuary. Mohanty criticized the government as a "silent watcher," as families lose their breadwinners to this deadly conflict.