Baby elephant killed in 'stampede'

Cuttack: In a bizarre incident, a baby elephant lost its life in a stampede at Jamana village under Dalijoda Range in Cuttack forest division Wednesday.

According to Dalijoda Forest Range Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Manoranjan Swain, the baby elephant, assumed to be of one-month-old, was trampled to death by other elephants after a stampede ensued in the forests.

“There were no elephants in this area. A herd of 17 elephants from the Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary had entered the forest range three days ago. Our forest staff were closely monitoring their movements. The big elephants stampeded the baby pachyderm causing its death on the spot while they were moving in the area last night,” said Swain.

The Forest Department, meanwhile, has seized the carcass of the baby jumbo and sent it for post-mortem.

“The exact reason behind the death of the animal will be known after we get the autopsy report,” added the ACF.