POST NEWS NETWORK
Dhenkanal, Nov 8: Forest officials recovered the carcass of a female elephant calf from a paddy field near Brahmani riverbank in Bainshia village under Sarangi forest range here Sunday.
On being informed by villagers, the forest officials led by divisional forest officer (DFO) Pradipta Kumar Sahu rushed to the spot with veterinarians and conducted a post-mortem of the carcass. Several parts of the carcass, which had bloodstains, were sent for an examination to Bhubaneswar-based Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). Later, the carcass was buried on the spot.
Forest officials claimed the calf might have died of injuries caused by a mishap but failed to ascertain the actual reason behind its death.
The officials, however, ruled out poisoning or any internal injury as the reason for the incident.
Hundreds of villagers of Bainshia, Kathpala, Kanka, Ambabahali, Khankar, Ballabh, Makundpur and Gopalpur rushed to the spot and expressed their resentment over elephant menace in the area. They alleged man-animal conflict has claimed the lives of eight pachyderms and two persons.
Elephants from nearby forests regularly stray into human habitations and cause immense damage to black gram, green gram, arhar and vegetable crops, the villagers said, adding they are living under constant fear as the route between Rupabalia forest and Ashwakhola forest has turned into an elephant corridor frequented by over 100 elephants daily. The pachyderms are drawn to the riparian farmlands to drink water and eat the crops.
The elephant menace has dealt a severe blow to the farmers who are already suffering crop loss due to a drought-like situation.
The DFO refused to comment on the calf’s death till the post-mortem report was available with him.