Tusker found dead in Odisha’s Angul, Forest Department begins probe

A male adult elephant was found dead on Sunday night near Baliaposi Sahi of Manikajodi village in the Pakunda section of Angul district. The jumbo carcass was discovered by locals, who immediately informed forest personnel.

Also Read: 136 elephants died across Odisha in past 18 months: Minister in Assembly

Following the report, a team from the Forest Department reached the site and initiated a detailed investigation into the pachyderm’s cause of death.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the elephant was between 15 and 20 years old. The death has sparked concern among wildlife authorities, especially in light of recent incidents in the district.

Nearly a week ago, on December 8, a leopard had died after being caught in a hunter’s trap, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Forest Department’s monitoring and protection measures.

Forest officials are currently examining the scene to determine whether the death was natural or caused by human intervention.

Wildlife experts stress the need for increased vigilance in the areas frequented by elephants to prevent further untimely deaths and to ensure the safety of both animals and local communities.

However, no comments were received from the Forest Department in this regard.

Worth mentioning, a total of 136 elephants have died in Odisha over the past one and a half years due to various causes, with electrocution emerging as the leading cause behind it. Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia shared this information on December 9 in his written reply to a query in the State Legislative Assembly.

According to the data presented in the House, four elephants were killed by poachers, while another four died due to retaliatory attacks by local villagers. Electrocution accounted for 42 deaths, and four elephants were killed after being hit by trains. Diseases claimed 31 lives, while another 31 died due to miscellaneous natural causes. The causes behind the deaths of 20 elephants remain unclear.