The terai region of Uttarakhand is turning out to be a vulnerable spot for the wildlife wealth of the State. A male elephant was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday morning in the Gaushala area of Ampokhra Forest Range in Terai West Forest Division.
The tusker’s body was spotted by residents of village Chandpur at Gaushala area under Tarai West Forest Division. Incidentally, the place where animal’s corpse was found was very close to farmlands with standing wheat crops. Chandpur villagers immediately informed this to forest officials following which a team led by Terai West DFO PK Patro reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
Patro confirmed the death of the tusker and said that the elephant might have died around 9.30 and 10 pm as that is their movement time in the area. He said, “As of now we cannot rule out the possibility of electrocution.” He, however, added that exact reason of elephant’s death would only be established after the post-mortem report was made available by the doctors.
Incidentally, post-mortem of animal was underway when the report was being filed.”
Patro informed that the tusker had no injury on its body suggesting that pachyderm did not die due to external injury or by attempted poaching. “If it died due to electrocution, then we will have to take serious note of this as the elephant is considered is included in schedule one of wildlife protection norms,” said Patro. It must be a handiwork of some villagers to save their crops as adjoining villages had often witnessed crop rioting spree by the elephants,” said DFO Tarai West.
According to him both tusks of dead elephant, around 15-20 years, were intact. “We will register a case and investigate into the reasons for pachyderm’s killing and dig out the identity of people behind his death,” said Patro.
According to Patro, if it was due to electrocution then identity of those involved in laying electric wires have to be unearthed for forest department do not have any official electric wiring here. Its’ likely that somebody from village have laid wire to prevent crop from the elephants who often cross over from nearby forest areas. Later, wire might have been removed, said Patro.
“Whatever may be the reason, we will have to intensify our patrolling there,” said the DFO official. He further informed that department was also looking into the angle if any poachers’ group was active in this part of Uttarakhand. Forest department was also trying to get in touch with WII experts to seek their opinion on the death of male elephant.
