Securing Rewilding Corridors for Odisha Elephants

Dear Friend of Elephants:

Before we share the hopeful news, we must first speak about the devastation unfolding across Odisha’s forests.

Over the past decade, more than 94,000 hectares of forest have burned in wildfires across the state, with over 22,000 hectares lost in just the last three years alone. Many of these fires are not natural—they are human-induced, often sparked during the collection of Mahua flowers, when dry forest floors are intentionally burned to make harvesting easier. But in today’s extreme heat and drought conditions, these fires quickly spiral out of control, swallowing entire landscapes in flames.

This year, tragedy struck our own restoration sites. Nearly 20,000 saplings we had lovingly planted and nurtured—trees meant to feed elephants and heal fragmented forests—were reduced to ashes in a matter of days. Watching years of restoration disappear so suddenly was heartbreaking for our entire team and the tribal communities who had cared for these lands with such dedication.

But even in the midst of loss, we refuse to surrender hope.

VFAE is now developing an innovative Mahua flower collection net system specifically designed for Odisha’s forests. Unlike conventional models, these nets extend from the tree trunk all the way to the outer canopy, preventing flowers from falling onto dry leaves below—and eliminating the need to light fires in the first place. It is a simple yet transformative solution that protects forests, safeguards livelihoods, and offers a path toward coexistence.

And now, the reason we continue fighting for these forests every single day.

More than 70 elephants have already returned to the restored corridor landscapes in the Susab forest range. Families of elephants are once again walking through lands they had long abandoned. Saplings planted in previous years are thriving, with many now rising over twelve feet tall—turning barren, degraded land back into living forest.

The waterholes we created are also flourishing, offering life-saving refuge during Odisha’s brutal summers. These oases are sustaining elephants and countless other species struggling to survive intensifying heatwaves and prolonged drought.

The road ahead remains difficult. But the forests are healing. The elephants are returning. And together—with compassion, science, and community—we are proving that restoration is possible, even after the flames.

Links:

• Volunteer Opportunities
• National Media Coverage of our Conservation Education project