Elephant carcasses in Balasore trigger anthrax fear

Balasore: Forest officials on Tuesday found carcasses of two female elephants in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in the district. The death of the two elephants is suspected to be caused by anthrax.

The carcasses were reportedly found within a distance of about 200m in the sanctuary following which the forest department officials informed their higher-ups.

Later, the Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Kuldiha reached the spot and sent the carcasses for post-mortem.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the elephants were suffering from Anthrax, said Laxman Kumar Pradhan, ACF, Kuldiha.

"We suspect that the elephants were suffering from Anthrax but the actual reason behind the death could be established only after receiving the post-mortem report," said Pradhan.