Elephant calf death questions forest dept’s efficiency

Cuttack: A five-year-old elephant calf was found dead in the Baniabandha reserve forest under Khuntuni range of the district here on Thursday.

According to sources, the villagers spotted the carcass in the Orba field of the forest range and informed the forest officials, who rushed to the spot, recovered the carcass and started investigation.

The officials said the calf’s health condition was not good since last few days and cited it as a natural death.

The baby pachyderm would be buried today in the forest after the autopsy report is received, officials added.

Meanwhile, frequent death of elephants in the forest range has raised questions on the efficiency of the forest officials and it remains to be seen what immediate solutions the department takes up to avoid further extinction.