Village in Bhubaneswar mourns jumbo loss: Call for preservation of remains
Subhashish Mohanty, The Telegraph
September 1, 2024
See link
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/village-in-bhubaneswar-mourns-jumbo-loss-call-for-preservation-of-remains/cid/2044957
for photo.
Villagers came together to observe the 12th-day rituals in remembrance of
the deceased tusker, who was cherished by the community.
More than 400 people from Andharua village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar
gathered on Friday to pay tributes to 40-year-old Ramu, an elephant of
Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary who died by electrocution after coming in
contact with wires 12 days ago.
Villagers came together to observe the 12th-day rituals in remembrance of
the deceased tusker, who was cherished by the community.
“Ramu was attached to us for the last 40 years. He used to enter our
village in search of food but never attacked anyone. His death on August 19
is a personal loss for all of us and the people from the adjoining
villages,” local sarpanch Swarnalata Baliarsingh told The Telegraph.
“Following the death of the tusker Ramu, we decided to organise a shraddha
sabha on the 12th day of his death at the panchayat office. More than 400
villagers gathered and shared their memories of the gentle giant,” added
the sarpanch.
The villagers have demanded that the remains of Ramu be preserved in the
state museum. They have submitted a memorandum to the forest department in
this regard.
“His remains would remind us of the bond between man and animal and how
both can live in harmony,” said Swarnalata.
“We have received petitions from so many people for the preservation of
Ramu’s skeleton.
It takes at least three months for the body to decompose. After that,
principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF-Wildlife) will take a call on
the issue,” Chandaka’s divisional forest officer, Sarat Behera, told this
newspaper.
Dilip Tarai, a former sarpanch, said: “It is hard to come to terms with the
death of Ramu who was extremely intelligent. It is difficult to accept that
an intelligent animal like Ramu accidentally came in contact with wire
while trying to eat banana leaves. We suspect that Ramu was killed and his
death should be inquired into.”
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/village-in-bhubaneswar-mourns-jumbo-loss-call-for-preservation-of-remains/cid/2044957
Village in Bhubaneswar mourns jumbo loss: Call for preservation of remains
Subhashish Mohanty, The Telegraph
September 1, 2024
See link
<https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/village-in-bhubaneswar-mourns-jumbo-loss-call-for-preservation-of-remains/cid/2044957>
for photo.
Villagers came together to observe the 12th-day rituals in remembrance of
the deceased tusker, who was cherished by the community.
More than 400 people from Andharua village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar
gathered on Friday to pay tributes to 40-year-old Ramu, an elephant of
Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary who died by electrocution after coming in
contact with wires 12 days ago.
Villagers came together to observe the 12th-day rituals in remembrance of
the deceased tusker, who was cherished by the community.
“Ramu was attached to us for the last 40 years. He used to enter our
village in search of food but never attacked anyone. His death on August 19
is a personal loss for all of us and the people from the adjoining
villages,” local sarpanch Swarnalata Baliarsingh told The Telegraph.
“Following the death of the tusker Ramu, we decided to organise a shraddha
sabha on the 12th day of his death at the panchayat office. More than 400
villagers gathered and shared their memories of the gentle giant,” added
the sarpanch.
The villagers have demanded that the remains of Ramu be preserved in the
state museum. They have submitted a memorandum to the forest department in
this regard.
“His remains would remind us of the bond between man and animal and how
both can live in harmony,” said Swarnalata.
“We have received petitions from so many people for the preservation of
Ramu’s skeleton.
It takes at least three months for the body to decompose. After that,
principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF-Wildlife) will take a call on
the issue,” Chandaka’s divisional forest officer, Sarat Behera, told this
newspaper.
Dilip Tarai, a former sarpanch, said: “It is hard to come to terms with the
death of Ramu who was extremely intelligent. It is difficult to accept that
an intelligent animal like Ramu accidentally came in contact with wire
while trying to eat banana leaves. We suspect that Ramu was killed and his
death should be inquired into.”
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/village-in-bhubaneswar-mourns-jumbo-loss-call-for-preservation-of-remains/cid/2044957
