Teams rushed in after 4 elephants are found dead in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, 5 critically ill Anand Mohan J, Indian Express October 29, 2024 Four elephants were found dead and five critically unwell by a patrolling staff at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Tuesday, officials said. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Vijay N Ambade told The Indian Express, “The cause of death remains undetermined and will be ascertained following post-mortem examinations and further investigation of the area. Multiple teams have been formed, which are investigating all angles as to how the elephants died.” According to wildlife department officials, during routine patrol on Tuesday afternoon, “staff at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve discovered two wild elephant dead in Reserved Forest (RF) 384 and two more in Protected Forest (PF) 183 A, located in the Salakhaniya Beat of Khitauli and Pataur core ranges, respectively.” “Shortly after, teams combed the surrounding area and found five additional elephants lying on the ground in an unwell state,” said a senior wildlife department official. The affected herd, initially reported to have 13 members, now consists of four deceased elephants (one male, three females), five in critical condition, and four others that appear healthy. “A comprehensive operation is underway, with wildlife health officers and veterinarians from Bandhavgarh and the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health in Jabalpur working urgently to treat the ailing elephants,” the official said. The Specialised Tiger Strike Force (STSF) teams from Jabalpur and Bhopal are also at the site to investigate the incident. In consultation with experts from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, park managers and veterinarians are focusing on the immediate treatment of the unwell elephants to stabilise their condition. Local sources in Umaria said they are investigating what the elephants ingested prior to their death, speculating that the herd ate crops which may have played a role. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has a population of elephants that migrated from Chhattisgarh in 2018. The first herd of about 15–20 elephants was spotted in 2018. The elephants are now permanent residents and can be seen in the core and buffer areas of the reserve. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bandhavgarh-tiger-reserve-elephants-dead-9645003/