Following an investigation by the Forest Department into the recent death of an elephant inside the Kuldiha sanctuary in Balasore, a forester and a guard were suspended on Saturday.
Notably, the elephant was found dead in the Hatikulia section under the Mangalpur beat house of the sanctuary. As per reports, the carcass of the animal was reportedly discovered some days after its death even though patrolling in the area is being carried out.
Sources said that the department was unaware of the elephant death because of lax patrolling for which Hatikhulia forester Parmabati Behera and guard Pramila Sena were suspended.
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The reason behind the elephant death has not been ascertained and samples of the carcass have been sent to Bhubaneswar for tests, sources added.