The latest state elephant census puts Odisha’s wild elephant population at 2,103, while a Centre-backed study has estimated that the state can accommodate around 1,800 elephants. “However, modern estimates indicate that Odisha’s elephant population has remained relatively stable over the past five decades. Former PCCF Susanta Nanda said Odisha’s elephant crisis can no longer be understood simply in terms of elephant numbers. Despite decades of protection, the conventionally counted elephant population has broadly remained within the range of about 1,800–2,100 for several decades. Our focus is on finding a balance where elephant conservation and human development can go hand in hand,” Jha said.