Elephant trapped in a pit near Ranchi dies

Elephant trapped in a pit near Ranchi dies
Daily India.com
October 8, 2006 Banta (Jharkhand)

The Forest Department of Jharkhand is clueless about the death of an elephant, which was found in a pit at Banta village in Ranchi region on Sunday. The elephant is suspected to have died after being trapped in a pit dug up by the villagers for taking soil. The pit has become slippery due to rainwater.

On being informed by the villagers about the dead elephant in the pit, a team of officials of the Forest Department reached the spot. "Right now, we have no clue when the death took place. Usually, the elephants move after the sunset and before the sunrise. Some villagers might have seen the dead elephant in the morning and then informed us," said S Gaikwad, Conservator of Forests, Ranchi.

The villagers complained that the Forest Department has failed to control the elephants, due to which the farmers have to suffer when the standing crops are destroyed by the intruding herd. The elephants also damage houses, villagers said. "There is no one to take care of the elephants. We have given written application to the DFO (District Forest Officer) but nothing happened. We lose our crops due to the elephants. They destroy our crops in the field. Some times they damage our houses also," said Ghissi Mahto, a local.

The dead elephant was reportedly among the herd of 14 elephants, which were roaming around the area in search of fodder.

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