Pet elephant Jasoda kills a tribal when offered banana plant

Angul, Nov 8 (UNI) Pet elephant Jasoda from Chandaka Wildlife sanctuary, requisitioned
by Satkoshia Tigher Reserve to help capture tigress Sundari, had killed one 45 year old
tribal man near Purunakote range office today.

The tranquilization of the tigress Sundari was conducted with the help of Jasoda on
Tuesday and after that the elephant was housed at the Purunakote range office premises.

Today morning mahut took it to a nearby jungle for feeding bamboo leaves. He left
the place leaving the animal there but alerted the villagers not to venture near to her.

At about 12 noon one villager Sudhir Padhan, a tribal collected a banana plant and went
near to the elephant to feed her without knowing that the elephant will be so violent .

The pet elephant caught him and crushed on the ground killing him on the spot.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Satkosia Rama Samy described the incident as most
unfortunate.

He confirmed that the man was killed when he went near to the elephant to feed the
banana plant. A sum of Rs 4 lakh is being given to the next kin of the deceased besides,
the forest department has released Rs, 40,000 for funeral expenses.

Soon after the mishap the mahut brought pet elephant Jasoda the range office where
she was staying and left the place apprehending attack from the villagers who were
peeved over the incident

The elephant experts are in confusion as to why Jasoda turned so violent being a pet
animal.

Some claimed that she was over utilized by forest department since she was brought
from Chandka to Satkosia on Saturday last .

She had almost travelled about 100 kms in these three to four days in satkosia forest
before the tigress was tranquilized.

Another expert also opine that she was feeling loneliness in satkosia without her partner
and which might have disturbed her mentally.

Meanwhile, tigress Sundari which has killed two men after it was translocated inside the
satkoshia Tiger Reserve for increasing the tiger population, is stated to be in good health
in the enclosure at Raigoda.

The forest officials are constantly monitoring her all movements and behavior and
found all the parameters are stable and normal.

Sources said the tigress will stay inside the special enclosure till a final decision is taken
as to whether it would be sent back to Madhya Pradesh from where it had come or housed
inside the Nandankanan Zoo as proposed by the forest officials.
UNI XC DP BM

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://www.uniindia.com/pet-elephant-jasoda-kills-a-tribal-when-offered-banana-plant/east/news/1400380.html