Tusker found dead in Prabhasuni Reserve Forest

Deogarh: Forest officials recovered a headless carcass of an elephant from Prabhasuni Reserve Forest near Niranjanhuli village in the district today morning.

The elephant has been identified as a male tusker aged about 25 years.

As per reports, some locals spotted the elephant body lying inside the forest and informed the officials.

Deogarh Forest Range Officer Kusha Charan Singh who inspected the spot said it could be the work of poachers.

"We cannot affirm whether the tusker was killed or its head was cut off for tusks after its death. The only thing that can be established presently is that the jumbo had died 2-3 days earlier but we can clarify about the details of the death only after the autopsy reports,” said Telaebana forester Kulamani Puhana.

Sources said that the deceased tusker could be the one which was seen roaming in the reserve along with 7 other female elephants few days ago but was not sighted since last 2 to 3 days.