Post News Network
Dhenkanal, Dec 3: Forest officials recovered the carcass of a baby tusker near Chadheicherra nullah in Bhagirathpur under Western Kamakhyanagar range while a farmer was attacked by a female elephant which was guarding the carcass and rendered critical here Wednesday.
The injured farmer Balaram Mallick (40) of Bhagirathpur village fractured his ribs after the elephant picked him on its tusk and hurled him to the ground. He was rushed in an ambulance to Kamakhyanagar hospital and admitted for treatment.
The incident occurred when the female elephant guarding the carcass of the baby tusker started fleeing after villagers burst crackers to drive it away.
Forest officials and villagers said the four-year-old tusker might have fallen prey to an attack by an adult tusker following a turf war in the herd.
Forest officials rushed to the spot where veterinarian Satya Bikarm Tarai conducted a post-mortem before burying the carcass on the spot. Tarai also supported the earlier claims made on the baby tusker’s death.
He said the baby tusker along with its herd after eating paddy crops in Bhagirathpur village was returning to jungle when they stopped at the nullah to drink water. While drinking water a fight ensued between the adult and the baby tusker in which the latter was killed.
The matter came to light after villagers noticed the baby tusker lying dead near the nullah with a female elephant guarding the carcass. They made all attempts to drive away the elephant but it refused to move.
Later, forest officials joined the villagers and burst crackers to drive away the elephant. Bursting of crackers scared the elephant following which it started fleeing towards the jungle. However, on its way it attacked Malllick and left him critically injured.
