Mystery shrouds elephants’ death

Mystery shrouds elephants’ death
Statesman News Service October 17, 2006

SAMBALPUR, Oct. 17: Three elephants died in the Polagada forest under Rairakhol sub-division, 90 km from here, in the inaccessible Naktideul-Daincha area. The pachyderms died after they had come in contact with high voltage electric wire yesterday night, forest officers in Rairakhol said.

Out of the three, two were reported to be females. It was also learnt that a spotted deer was shot dead by poachers in Mochibahal. “Whether the elephants died after having come in contact with electricity lines or during the preventive measures by farmers to save their crops is yet to be discovered,” said Mr Raju Kumar, the conservator of forests. “We are not yet sure of the exact location of the mishap,” Mr Kumar added.

But the incident has made the nature lovers here extremely anxious. This is another blow to the forest department which is accused of dwindling number of pachyderms in the state, opined Miss Puspa Mahapatra, an activist of wildlife protection. The matter needs to be thoroughly inquired into and action should be initiated against the erring persons , she demanded.

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