Elephant Gajraj kills forester in Tadoba (State of Maharashtra, India)

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Fri, May 7, 2021 11:18 PM

Elephant Gajraj kills forester in Tadoba (State of Maharashtra, India)
Mazhar Ali, The Times of India
May 7, 2021

CHANDRAPUR: Gajraj, the problem elephant of Tadoba, killed an officer with
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) while one other had a close shave deep
in the Botezari forest in core area on Thursday evening.
“Residents of Kolsa and Rantalodhi villages in Tadoba core have been
alerted and asked to stay indoors till the time the elephant is captured,”
said CCF and field director, Jitendra Ramgaonkar.

This is the third human kill by Gajraj. The pachyderm had earlier fled from
its camp and killed a woman and injured one other in Yavatmal district in
October 2018 when it was involved in capture of problem tigress Avni.

On November 15, 2019, the elephant had turned aggressive under musth and
killed its caretaker at Moharli gate when he was trying to feed the jumbo.
Musth is a periodic condition in bull (male) elephants characterized by
highly aggressive behaviour due to rise in testosterones (reproductive
hormones) level.

The elephant was moved into deep forest in Botezari in Kolsa range of TATR
after the incident.

On Thursday evening, Ramgaonkar said, Gajraj turned aggressive and
caretakers tried to rein it in. “ACF Ravindra Kulkarni and chief accountant
of field director office of TATR, Pramod Gaurkar, were patrolling in the
same area. At around 6pm, their vehicle got stuck in the mud. Suddenly,
Gajraj charged at the duo sitting in the vehicle,” said Ramgaonkar.

“Both the officers left their vehicle and ran for the safety but the
elephant attacked the duo. Gaurkar was killed on the spot, while ACF
Kulkarni had a close shave,” he said.

Ramgaonkar maintained that the elephant was not in ‘musth’. “Its musth was
over recently. It turned aggressive for uncertain reasons,” he said.

The field director informed that rapid response teams from Tadoba and
Chandrapur along with a veterinary doctor and the commandos of Special
Tiger Protection Force have been called for rescue operation.

Efforts to tranquilise and capture Gajraj were underway till filing of this
report. Ramgaonkar claimed that rescue workers are facing problem in
tranquilizing the animal due to darkness, but was confident of capturing
the jumbo by morning.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/elephant-gajraj-kills-forester-in-tadoba/articleshowprint/82442173.cms

Elephant Gajraj kills forester in Tadoba (State of Maharashtra, India) Mazhar Ali, The Times of India May 7, 2021 CHANDRAPUR: Gajraj, the problem elephant of Tadoba, killed an officer with Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) while one other had a close shave deep in the Botezari forest in core area on Thursday evening. “Residents of Kolsa and Rantalodhi villages in Tadoba core have been alerted and asked to stay indoors till the time the elephant is captured,” said CCF and field director, Jitendra Ramgaonkar. This is the third human kill by Gajraj. The pachyderm had earlier fled from its camp and killed a woman and injured one other in Yavatmal district in October 2018 when it was involved in capture of problem tigress Avni. On November 15, 2019, the elephant had turned aggressive under musth and killed its caretaker at Moharli gate when he was trying to feed the jumbo. Musth is a periodic condition in bull (male) elephants characterized by highly aggressive behaviour due to rise in testosterones (reproductive hormones) level. The elephant was moved into deep forest in Botezari in Kolsa range of TATR after the incident. On Thursday evening, Ramgaonkar said, Gajraj turned aggressive and caretakers tried to rein it in. “ACF Ravindra Kulkarni and chief accountant of field director office of TATR, Pramod Gaurkar, were patrolling in the same area. At around 6pm, their vehicle got stuck in the mud. Suddenly, Gajraj charged at the duo sitting in the vehicle,” said Ramgaonkar. “Both the officers left their vehicle and ran for the safety but the elephant attacked the duo. Gaurkar was killed on the spot, while ACF Kulkarni had a close shave,” he said. Ramgaonkar maintained that the elephant was not in ‘musth’. “Its musth was over recently. It turned aggressive for uncertain reasons,” he said. The field director informed that rapid response teams from Tadoba and Chandrapur along with a veterinary doctor and the commandos of Special Tiger Protection Force have been called for rescue operation. Efforts to tranquilise and capture Gajraj were underway till filing of this report. Ramgaonkar claimed that rescue workers are facing problem in tranquilizing the animal due to darkness, but was confident of capturing the jumbo by morning. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/elephant-gajraj-kills-forester-in-tadoba/articleshowprint/82442173.cms