Call for videography, independent witnesses during jumbo autopsies (State of Odisha, India) Hemanta Pradhan, The Times of India June 14, 2022 BHUBANESWAR: The Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO), a voluntary organisation, on Monday demanded the state government to make the provision for video recording and presence of independent witnesses during the autopsy of elephant carcasses. It stated that this practice will stop the alleged concealment of elephant deaths in the state. WSO secretary Biswajit Mohanty said due to the fear of suspension for dereliction of duties, lower-level staff do not report an unnatural death as senior officers do not offer any support or instil confidence. “After finding the carcass of an elephant, whose death is unnatural, an official has to file a case, investigate and try to apprehend the culprits. But it is tedious work for an officer and staff who prefer to take up lucrative plantation and eco-tourism work instead of protecting wildlife and punishing offenders,” he said. Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sashi Paul could not be contacted for a comment. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/call-for-videography-independent-witnesses-during-jumbo-autopsies/articleshow/92193728.cms