Haridwar tusker was shot dead, reveals autopsy

HARIDWAR: An autopsy has revealed that the 20-year-old male elephant
which was found dead near Hazaragrant area of Haridwar forest division
of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve on Thursday died of a bullet injury. Forest
officials found a bullet lodged in the tusker’s carcass while conducting the
autopsy. According to officials, the bullet pierced the animal’s heart
causing its death.

Divisional forest officer Aakash Verma said that “it seems that a countrymade
gun was used to kill the elephant.” “We are probing if it is a case of
poaching or something else.”

He added that a case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Incidentally, officials said that the elephant’s
tusk was “found intact and no other injuries were spotted.”

The region is known for frequent conflicts between farmers and elephants who stray out of the reserve and destroy standing
crops in the nearby villages. In a horrific incident earlier this year, a fully grown tusker was electrocuted by a farm land owner in
Pherupur village of Haridwar range.

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