Overview

• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi opened a two-day international workshop in Bhubaneswar that convened over 150 experts and officials to address human–elephant conflict.
• The proposed Centre for Species Survival – Asian Elephant will be located at Godibari near the Chandaka Wildlife Division in partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Wildlife Trust of India, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
• Officials described the centre as a regional hub for science, policy and community action, though detailed funding, implementation plans and timelines were not disclosed.
• Odisha outlined ongoing measures including corridor mapping, habitat restoration, volunteer networks such as Gaja Saathi and Vana Surakshya Samitis, strengthened anti-poaching units, rapid response teams, and monitoring via GPS/radio collars, drones and AI cameras.
• State leaders linked rising conflicts to habitat loss from expanding agriculture, infrastructure and urbanisation, citing about 900 human and 750 elephant deaths over the past decade.