There seems to be no end to elephant casualties in Odisha with the death of yet another tusker being reported from Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district on Sunday.
The highly decomposed carcass of the elephant with its tusks missing was recovered today in the park. It was believed that the tusker died 10-15 days back.
It was suspected that the elephant was killed and its tusks were removed.
The forest department officials visited the spot and launched a probe into the matter.
The carcass of the tusker was recovered at a time when there is growing concern over elephant casualties in the State.
Last month, the Orissa High Court observed that 2022 was perhaps the worst year for elephants in Odisha. The HC made the observation while hearing a case pertaining to the poaching of an elephant by three forest officials in Similipal Tiger Reserve.
Three field staff had killed an elephant for tusks and disposed of the carcass to destroy evidence. The accused had been arrested.
Recently, the Odisha forest department submitted a 10-pillar strategy in the Orissa High Court containing a ‘Comprehensive action plan for the conservation of elephants and mitigation of human-elephant conflict in Odisha.’
Reported by Maniklal Pani, OTV