5 elephant carcasses found in a fortnight (State of Odisha, India)
Daily Pioneer
June 16, 2022
The ailing ten-year-old tusker which remained under treatment for the last
seven days in the Narsinghpur West Range area under Athagarh forest
division after wounded at its trunk, head, back and legs by six gunshots,
succumbed to the injuries on Tuesday despite the efforts of OUAT and
Nandankanan Zoo veterinarians to cure it.
The pachyderm was found in ailing condition on June 7 by some Narsinghpur
locals who later intimated about the incident to Badamba-Narsinghpur MLA
Debi Prasad Mishra as well as the Forest department. Mishra acted promptly
and took the matter with Forest and Environment Minister Pradeep Kumar
Amat. As a result, an expert team From OUAT was sent to treat the injured
tusker which was recovered from a rivulet.
However, though there were some improvements in the condition of the
elephant initially, it again deteriorated and finally it died of the
multiple bullet shot wounds.
During the last fortnight, at least five carcasses of the elephant have
been spotted by the personnel of the Special Task Force in the Athagarh
jungle.
On Tuesday, the carcass of another elephant surfaced near Kharod village of
Badamba range. These carcasses are supposed to have been recovered at least
one to three years ago, said sources.
Some forest officials on condition of anonymity told that over 20
pachyderms have been shot at by the poachers during the last three years
and tusks were stolen. The carcasses were buried in the local jungle in
connivance with the high level officers of the Forest division.
At least six months ago, Athagarh Range Officer was suspended for hiding
the fact concerning an elephant's death and later its burial in the jungle
at night.
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