Heartbreaking! Elephant chokes to death in Karnataka after getting stuck in a fence

In Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park, a wild elephant choked to death on Saturday, while trying to flee from chasing villagers, Hindustan Times reported on Sunday.

In Karnataka’s Nagarhole National Park, a wild elephant choked to death on Saturday, while trying to flee from chasing villagers, Hindustan Times reported on Sunday. The tusker ravaged through Bharthawadi village, in the early hours of Saturday and was running back to the Veeranahosahalli forest when it got stuck in the railway fencing, HT reported.

With a chasing mob behind him, it tried to heave over the fence. While doing so it collapsed under its own weight and crushed its diaphragm and choked to death. This incident added another jumbo to the long list of elephant death in recent times, reported HT.

The railway fences were put up by the Karnataka forest department in 2013, as a measure taken to reduce conflict between animals and villagers. 33 km long railing was erected in the first phase of the project. Railing is to be erected in another 220 km stretch, with a budget of Rs 22 crores has also been sanctioned, HT reported.

KM Narayanaswamy, conservator of forests and field director, Nagarhole National Park, told Hindustan Times that the incident is unfortunate. “We have witnessed the death of an elephant due to railway fencing like this, for the first time.” He further added that “The fencing project has been undertaken to favour the farmers. And this is the first incident where it is seen to be affecting elephants adversely.”

In November, the Supreme Court passed an order to remove spikes and other artificial objects to allow free movement of the elephants. This came after a PIL was filed by author and conservationist Prerna Bindra.

“Elephants move long distances and such artificial barriers at times can have an adverse effect. In Sri Lanka’s Udawalawe National Park elephants starved to death when fencing was put up in the forest,” she told HT.

Project Elephant programme under the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, in their guidelines also mentioned that large-scale fencing is not a solution to human-elephant conflicts prevalent all over the country.

The Nagarhole National Park, where the incident happened, is a part of the largest Asiatic Elephant habitat with around 5,500 elephants, that stretches across multiple national parks across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. However, official estimates from the forest ministry, around 80 elephant die every year due to accidents or poaching and poisoning.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/heartbreaking-elephant-chokes-to-death-in-karnataka-after-getting-stuck-in-a-fence/1415233/

Juvenile tusker found lying dead in Satkoshia forest

Angul, Nov 23 (UNI) There is no end of elephant death in Angul
district with
one more death reported from Jilinda range of Satkosia wild life
division last
night.

A six year old juvenile tusker was found dead in the Judum Reserve
forest
about 3 km away from Bankadhar village under Jilinda range.

His two small tusks were found intact. Forest officials who rushed to
the spot
said the elephant died a natural death after being away from a herd.

His postmortem was conducted today.
“We rushed to spot after being informed that a tusker died in the jungle and
it appears that a six year old tusker of five feet height who had been out of the
herd for some time died in the forest."
It might have died a natural death due to ill health as there is no evidence of
any foul play behind its death,. Assistant conservator of forest RK swain said
adding that we are waiting for the post mortem report to arrive at the conclusion’.

Some days ago an adult tusker died in Handapa range of Athmallick division
after coming into contact with live wire that was laid by some poachers to prey wild boars.

Earlier in the month another tusker was killed in Khamar jungle by poachers
and its two tusks were taken away by the poachers. Forest officials are still to
lay their hands on the elusive poachers. UNI XC BD BM

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://www.uniindia.com/~/juvenile-tusker-found-lying-dead-in-satkoshia-forest/States/news/1413995.html

Assam: Elephant electrocuted to death, locals blame power dept

Bokajan (Assam) , Nov 17 : Another case of electrocution of elephants has come to the fore, this time, from Assam. A wild tusker was electrocuted in Nambar Nadi tea estate in Bokajan on Friday after it came in contact with a live high voltage electric wire. Residents in the vicinity spotted the lifeless body of the elephant and immediately intimated the forest officials and the police. Locals have alleged that negligence on the part of the power department led to the death of the elephant. In the recent past, a number of cases of elephant deaths by electrocution have been reported in the country. An elephant was electrocuted to death on Thursday after coming in contact with an 11kv electric line in Mayurbhanj's Sansarasposi village in Odisha on Thursday, just over two weeks after seven elephants died after coming in contact with non-rectification of sagging lines and non-cabling of transmission lines in another district in the state. Data from the environment ministry shows that 655 elephant deaths took place in India from 2009 to 2017. The reasons for the death of tuskers include electrocution, train accidents, poaching, and poisoning.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.newkerala.com/news/read/69576/assam-elephant-electrocuted-to-death-locals-blame-power-dept.html

Assam: Wild Elephant Dies of Electrocution in Karbi Anglong, Power Department Accused of Negligence

Bokajan: Another case of electrocution of elephants has come to the fore, this time, from Assam. A wild tusker was electrocuted in Nambar Nadi tea estate in Bokajan on Friday after it came in contact with a live high voltage electric wire. Residents in the vicinity spotted the lifeless body of the elephant and immediately intimated the forest officials and the police. Locals have alleged that negligence on the part of the power department led to the death of the elephant.

In the recent past, a number of cases of elephant deaths by electrocution have been reported in the country. An elephant was electrocuted to death on Thursday after coming in contact with an 11kv electric line in Mayurbhanj's Sansarasposi village in Odisha on Thursday, just over two weeks after seven elephants died after coming in contact with non-rectification of sagging lines and non-cabling of transmission lines in another district in the state.
Data from the environment ministry shows that 655 elephant deaths took place in India from 2009 to 2017. The reasons for the death of tuskers include electrocution, train accidents, poaching, and poisoning.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/National/2018-11-17/Assam-Wild-Elephant-Dies-of-Electrocution-in-Karbi-Anglong-Power-Department-Accused-of-Negligence/443253

Injured female elephant found dead at Tholampalayam

COIMBATORE: The injured five-year-old female elephant, which had been spotted near Periyanaickenpalayam a few days ago, was found dead at Tholampalayam on Wednesday.

“The elephant could have died on Tuesday night. It was found in the postmortem that two of the elephant’s teeth were broken. It might have struggled to take food,” said district forest officer D Venkatesh.

Forest officials had been tracking the elephant, whose carcass was found deep inside reserve forest, for about a week.

“We started monitoring the animal after we got information that the elephant had been standing frequently near a waterhole in Thadagam reserve forest. As we noticed its lower jaw had been dislocated, we brought a veterinarian to inspect the animal. Based on his suggestion, we were giving the elephant medicine-laced bananas,” said Venkatesh.

Earlier in the week, a ten-year-old male elephant was found dead near Burgur forest area near Anthiyur in Erode.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/injured-female-elephant-found-dead-at-tholampalayam/articleshow/65235997.cms

Female elephant run over by train while crossing tracks in Uttarakhand

A female elephant was found dead in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand on Tuesday after being run over by a train, a forest official said.

Officials told IANS that a group of 17 elephants was crossing the rail tracks when the high-speed Dehradun-Kathgodam Express was passing by.

While foresters tried to alert the driver, he did not slow down the train, resulting in the death of the elephant.

Drivers of trains are expected to slow down while passing through the national park. But elephants continue to be hit and killed by trains.

The management of the forest reserve said a case will be filed against the train driver.


Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/female-elephant-run-over-by-train-while-crossing-tracks-in-uttarakhand/story-Z6TFeIpZCGCWRW9B06mfxH.html

Carcass of female elephant found in Dhenkanal village

Dhenkanal: In yet another case of elephant death in the state, a female elephant was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Similipatna near Ichhapur village under Sadar Forest Range in Dhenkanal district on Monday.

The pachyderm, aged around 12 years was spotted by some residents of Ballabh Sahi early in the morning, who informed forest officials immediately.

A team led by Dhenkanal DFO and comprised of forest officials of Sadar Range reached the spot and conducted the preliminary investigation later in the morning. They have suspected that the jumbo could have died due to electrocution. The animal was also appeared to be pregnant from the physical structure, they added.

Forest officials have launched a drive to disperse an elephant herd which was seen at a distance of at least 500 meters from the spot where the dead jumbo was found.


Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://kalingatv.com/latestnews/ratna-bhandar-keys-controversy-fir-against-collector-ex-sjta-administrator/

As 13 captive elephants die in Kerala in 5 months, a debate on animal cruelty – and tougher rules

The death of 13 captive elephants in Kerala in the past five months has sparked a debate on the cruelty shown to these animals – an intrinsic part of the state’s grand temple festival tradition – and prompted a revision of the rules protecting them. The deaths follow 20 captive elephants dying in 2017 and 26 the year before, according to media reports.

On May 2, the state forest department announced that it had revised the Kerala Captive Elephants Management and Maintenance Rules, 2012, and would take strict legal action against those who torture or mistreat the animals.

PK Kesavan, the state’s chief wildlife warden, blamed the deaths this year on careless handling and wilful negligence. “Elephant owners make maximum profits during the festival season but pay scant attention to the well-being of the elephants,” he told Scroll.in. “They do not give adequate food and time for enough rest to them.”

Kesavan explained that elephants are different from other captive animals and require special treatment. “Elephants need huge amount of food and adequate rest,” he said. “Denying them both will badly affect their health.”

According to K Venkitachalam of the Heritage Animal Task Force, a non-governmental organisation in Thrissur, an elephant needs 200 kg of tree leaves and 200 litres of water every day. “Unfortunately, a majority of the captive elephants get less than one-tenth the required quantity because of the festivals,” he said.

A parade of elephants bedecked with ornaments and carrying idols and colourful parasols is a major attraction in Kerala’s temple festivals. By unofficial estimates, more than 500 such temple festivals are held in the state between August and May. The number of elephants used in each festival ranges from five to 120. Thrissur Pooram, considered the biggest temple festival in Kerala, concluded on April 26 and boasted a line-up of 117 elephants.


To read the full article, click on the story title.

Lab reports confirm poisoning of tigers and elephant at sanctuary; forest dept launches probe

CHAMARAJANAGAR: In a curious turn of events, the forest department has launched an investigation into the death of two tigers and an elephant, in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, following a lab report from Coimbatore. The incident was reported in January. According to the sources, the animals were killed by mixing poison in the river.
Speaking to ToI, Punati Sridhar, PCCF confirmed that the wild animals were poisoned. “The report we received from a lab in Coimbatore confirmed the poisoning. The department will investigate the incident,” he said.

It can be recalled that on January 25, the forest department authorities had recovered the dead bodies of two tigers and a female elephant from the Bandipur Tiger Reserve of the Gopala Swamy Betta (G S Betta) region. The carcass samples were sent to three laboratories. Even though two lab reports were negative for the alleged poisoning, the third report has pointed towards foul play. Based on the findings, the forest department has launched the investigation.

 To read the full article, click on the story title

Elephant deaths: PIL filed in Gauhati High Court

Two wildlife photographers from Guwahati have filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in Gauhati High Court asking it to direct the Assam forest department, the Union ministry of forest and environment and the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) to check the death of elephants.

In the PIL, petitioners Jugal Bharali and Rasel Hussain appealed to the court to direct all the three to have a detailed time-bound working plan for the protection of elephants from being hit by trains in the state, The Telegraph reported. They said at least 35 elephants were killed by speeding trains in Assam between 1990 and 2006 and a similar number had died in the past two months.

To read the full article, click on the story titlea

Two tuskers, one leopard cub found dead in Haridwar forest division

Haridwar: Two tuskers were found dead in Haridwar forest division on Monday and a one-year-old leopard cub was also found dead in Shyampur range by forest officials.The first elephant death was reported from Jiyapota village under the jurisdiction of Hariwdar range of the division where a 15-year-old tusker was electrocuted after it came in contact with an electric wire tied to a fence on agriculture land illegally.Haridwar divisional officer, Akash Verma, said, “We have collected several evidence from the spot but we are awaiting post mortem report to initiate action against the land owner who is absconding after the incident.”Another tusker died near Jhilmil lake reserve area in Rasiabad range of Haridwar forest division on Monday.

Forest officials said that the 15 year old tusker was killed by another elephant.Verma said, “Our patrolling team found body of a tusker in the wee hours of Monday in Rasiabad range.

It was trapped in a pit and got serious injuries during fighting with another tusker.

We conducted post mortem and buried it at the spot.”Meanwhile, a one-year-old leopard cub was found dead near Chandighat area under the jurisdiction of Shyampur range.

According to the forest officials, it was suffering from disease and the cause of death is said to be natural.Recently, two other elephant deaths have been reported from the district.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.nyoooz.com/news/dehradun/1079224/two-tuskers-one-leopard-cub-found-dead-in-haridwar-forest-division/

Two elephants found dead in two places

COIMBATORE: Two bodies of two she elephants were found in the forest areas of this and nearby Nilgiris district, forest department sources said.
The body of a 30-year-old elephant was found in Mielmukkai area in Sirumugai forest range in the district, they said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the death was due to some illness.
The carcass of a three-year elephant was found in Needle Rock near Nilgiris district, they said.

It was suspected that the death could be due to lack proper food and water, they said.

 Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/two-elephants-found-dead-in-two-places/articleshow/63491182.cms

Teary-eyed, thousands of Kerala elephant fans bid adieu to Thiruvambady Sivasundar

It was a funeral like no other. Thousands of teary-eyed elephant fans flocked to the cultural capital on Sunday to pay tributes to Gajarajan Thiruvambady Sivasundar, who died earlier in the day after a prolonged illness.

Industries Minister A C Moideen, Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar and eminent personalities turned up along with nine jumbos to bid adieu to the gentle giant, who shored up temple festivals with his majestic presence.The 46-year-old tusker had been suffering from erandakettu (impaction of the colon) for the past 67 days and the end came at around 3 am. Forest Department officials confirmed that the jumbo, owned by businessman T A Sunder Menon, had died of the ailment. However, they maintained that the exact cause of the death could be confirmed only after studying the post-mortem report.

Brought from the Kodanad elephant camp, Sivasundar was offered to the deity of Thiruvambady in 2003 by Sunder Menon. Since then, he had been an integral part of the elephant procession at the renowned Thrissur Pooram.

The jumbo shot into fame when he lifted the ‘kolam’ of the deity of Thiruvambady at the Pooram.
Sivasundar had also participated in various temples festivals such as Arattupuzha Pooram and Uthralikavu Pooram in Thrissur, Nenmara-Vallangi Vela in Palakkad, and the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple festival.

The elephant was bestowed with titles such as Kalaba Kesari Pattam and Mathanga Kesari Pattam. He was also the focus of a documentary titled Azhakinte Thampuran.
Sivasundar’s untimely death raises many questions about the maintenance of captive elephants in the state. According to experts, at least 70 elephant deaths reported recently were due to Ernadakettu.


Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://www.indianews-today.com/news/tearyeyed-thousands-of-kerala-elephant-fans-bid-adieu-to-thiruvambady-sivasundar

Elephant, stuck in pit, dies

An elephant, believed to be less than eight-years-old, died after getting stuck in a sewage pit inside a private resort built along the notified elephant corridor in Bokkapuram on Thursday. Forest officials said that the elephant got stuck in the sewage pit at the 'Wild Inn Resort' in Bokkapuram, in the Singara Forest Range in the Nilgiris North Forest Division on late Wednesday night. Local residents said that they could hear the piercing screams of the young elephant more than 1 km away.

But the resort management failed to inform the forest department of the incident till Thursday morning, by which time the animal died. S.

Kanthan, Singara Forest Range Officer, said that the elephant got stuck into the sewage pit after a cement block used to cover it caved in when the animal stood over it. It managed to climb out but one of its hind legs got stuck inside. The incident has brought to focus the problems created by ‘illegal’ resorts on wildlife in the area. S.

Jayachandran, joint secretary of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement, said that only two resorts in the area had license to operate, and that the others, including the resort where the elephant died, was functioning without permission. “We expect strong action, including the arrest of the resort owners for their negligence in causing the death of the elephant,” he added. S.

Kalanidhi, District Forest Officer, Nilgiris North Division, said that a case has been registered. “We will act against the concerned persons once we have fixed culpability, and after the completion of a post-mortem examination of the elephant,” he said. Forest department staff spent an entire day trying to figure out how to extricate the carcass of the elephant from the sewage pit, and decided to use an earth mover to pull the carcass out..

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.nyoooz.com/news/coimbatore/1064792/elephant-stuck-in-pit-dies/

Male elephant found dead on patta land

A male elephant was found dead at Mathipalayam village in Madhukkarai range on a patta land. Forest department officials suspect it was electrocuted and are planning to book the owner of the land.

Locals residents, who found the carcass around 6am, had informed the forest officials. “We have begun investigations. Veterinary doctor Manoharan conducted a postmortem. We will take legal action based on the evidences,” conservator of Coimbatore circle S Ramasubramanian said.

The 20-year-old tusker was regularly seen in the area in the last three months and was a crop raider, department officials said.

Last year, five elephants, including two calves, had died of electrocution in Coimbatore region alone.


 Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.newstread.com/regional-news/india/coimbatore/male-elephant-found-dead-on-patta-land/

Two elephants, calf found dead in Kodagu

A cow elephant and its calf were found dead in a coffee plantation, while another  was found in a tank at a coffee estate in Virajpet taluk of South Kodagu on Thursday.

The cow elephant and its calf were found dead in the coffee estate at Soorikadu near Nalkeri. Forest officials, who examined the carcasses, suspect that the cow elephant, which had sustained a bullet injury, might have collapsed on its calf, killing it on the spot.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Maria Christu Raja told Deccan Chronicle that the samples of the two carcasses had been sent for forensic tests.

The carcass of a tusker , aged 20, was found in a tank in the coffee estate at Nalkeri. Raja suspects that a herd of elephants might have entered the estate in search of water. The tusker, which entered the tank, got caught in the slush and drowned.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://www.mytimesnow.com/news/india/690301/two-elephants-calf-found-dead-in-kodagu

Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple elephant dies

Tiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple elephant Rukmani died in the early hours of Thursday after it sustained injuries. It died 15 days before its 30th birthday.
The cow elephant was laid to rest near Anjeneyar Temple in the afternoon after a team of six veterinarians performed postmortem. Hundreds of devotees and residents of Tiruvannamalai paid homage to their beloved elephant whom they called ‘Rukku’. Priests offered special prayers.

The elephant was brought to the temple at the age of three years and domesticated. It was in the temple for close to 27 years. The elephant was given by the Tamil Nadu government to the temple.

The elephant sustained injuries when it was taken out for a regular walk around 9pm on Wednesday. When it was walking through the fifth prakaram of the temple, a pack of dogs barked and ran towards it. The elephant tried to run away and hit a barricade. The mahout and a few others managed to calm down the elephant and gave it water. After a while, it was taken to its shed. However, the elephant panicked when a dog run towards it. When it tried to run away, it hit a tin sheet and sustained multiple injuries.

Temple authorities engaged a veterinarian and treated Rukku. However, it died within two hours, said the sources in the temple.

To read the full article, click on the story title    

Elephant dies of lung infection

A nine-year-old makna, a male elephant without tusks, was found dead in Singara range of forests in the Nilgiris on Thursday, allegedly due to lung infection.
The carcass of the elephant was found in a private land at Bokkapuram. “The carcass might be a day old,” said forest range officer Kanthan.

Government veterinarian attached to Gudalur taluk performed the postmortem operation and the preliminary autopsy report suggested that the animal had breathing difficulties as it had been suffering from lung infection. “Samples of vital organs have been collected for lab test,” the official said.

Later, the carcass was buried inside the forest area.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/elephant-dies-of-lung-infection/articleshow/63421296.cms

Elephant calf dies of sunstroke

A carcass of an elephant calf aged about one and a half years was seized by Forest Department officials on Thursday in the Balikiari Reserve Forest under the Narasinghpur West Range after at least three days of its death.

Getting tips from the nearby villagers, the forest officials including Athagarh DFO Arun Kumar Swain and Range Officer Aviram Jena reached the spot, undertook an autopsy of jumbo calf and buried it there. Asked to Range Officer Jena regarding the cause of the animal’s death, he said that it was apprehended that it died of sunstroke as per the circumstantial evidences.


Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
http://www.indianews-today.com/news/elephant-calf-dies-of-sunstroke