Athgarh: An elephant died following a brawl between two herds of pachyderms on a paddy field at Bandhahata village under Athgarh forest range in Cuttack district Saturday.
According to sources, a herd comprising 18 elephants was holed up in Sukasan reserve forest.
Meanwhile, another herd comprising 10 to 12 elephants from Badamba area strayed into Ansupa forest. Later, the herd strayed into Sukasan reserve forest.
Forest officials have been engaged to keep a track on the movement of the pachyderms and prevent them from entering into human settlements.
Reports said the native herd came face to face with the herd from Badamba while both had strayed into Bandhahata to feed on standing paddy crops. The two herds attacked each other in the paddy field.
An elephants was killed in the brawl and fell on the paddy field. Villager spotted the carcass in the morning and alerted the forest officials.
Forester Sushil Kumar Jena, Sadar ranger Rabindra Kumar Nayak and veterinary doctor Sukant Kumar Behera along with other officials reached the village and launched a probe.
The officials performed the autopsy and buried the carcass. The incident has spread resentment among animal lovers who accused the forest officials of not being able to keep a track on the movements of the pachyderms.
PNN
