The rising cases of death of elephants at B.J.P forest range in Keonjhar district have raised concerns among the Forest department officials and animal lovers in the State.
With another jumbo’s death on Tuesday, as many as four pachyderms have died in the forest in a one month time period, sources said.
It is worthwhile to mention here that a female elephant was found dead at Talachampei in the forest range on August 7. Similarly on July 19, bodies of a female elephant and calf were found at Bandapala within the forest range.
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Meanwhile, an expert team from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and the district chief veterinary officer are looking into deaths of the pachyderms to ascertain the exact cause.
On the other hand, Keonjhar DFO and the Regional Conservator of Forests Arun Mishra have visited the spot to review the situation.
As per the autopsy report of the three dead elephants, the animals had problems in their lungs, Forest department officials said,
adding that the exact reason behind the death of the fourth jumbo can be ascertained only after getting the post-mortem report.
On the other hand, a herd of 25 elephants from neighbouring Jharkhand has reportedly wreaked havoc at Purunapani village under Patna range. The animals have damaged acres of paddy crop, locals alleged.
Meanwhile, Keonjhar DFO Ajit Satpathy has said the villagers will be give compensation for the loss caused by the elephants.
“We will conduct a survey on the loss caused by the elephants and compensation will be deposited to the victims’ bank account,” Satpathy said.