State continues to be the wildlife graveyard

A female pachyderm died after eating crops that was contaminated by pesticides in Angul district, forest officials informed on Tuesday.

The elephant in Prabhashuni village under Dimiria gram panchayat ventured out in search of food and ate the crops laced with pesticides by one farmer named Uday Samad in his land to get rid of worms and insects. The elephant was later found dead this morning following which Samad has been held by the forest officials here.

Meanwhile, two poachers have been apprehended by forest department for allegedly killing migratory birds in Chilika. The forest officials nabbed Sheikh Majid Khan and Sheikh Achu at Saral Singh gate and seized a bag containing as many as 30 migratory birds-- pintail and coot being the highest in number.

The duo hailing from Sorana revealed that they make quick money by selling these birds during this period every year.

In another incident, police and fire brigade personnel rescued a bear from a well in Podhashul village in Nilgiri block under Balasore district. But the bear sustained severe injuries as the locals pelted stones at the helpless animal.

The bear was caged out of the well and was shifted to Kuldiha Sanctuary.