Post News Network
Joda/Keonjhar, May 16: Despite various protective measures taken by the forest department, elephants continue to be killed by poachers in Keonjhar district.
Forest officials Saturday said that a female elephant was poached with the help of an excavator in Naupani-Kankana forest under Champua range near Joda mining area, two months ago, triggering tension among wildlife activists and environmentalists of the area.
The poachers killed the elephant and buried it in a pit, officials added.
Two poachers believed to complicit in this incident were also arrested Saturday, officials said.
Champua ranger Srirampad Arabinda Mishra said the forest officials had received a tip-off about the elephant being poached from a source. Mishra along with a team of officials immediately visited the spot Friday and found carcass of the elephant after a thorough search operation. The pachyderm, aged about 30 years, was buried in a pit after it was hunted.
The carcass was dug out from the pit and its post-mortem was carried out. After a preliminary investigation, forest officials arrested two poachers – Nira Nayak and Aju Mohant.
Fourteen other persons have been detained for further interrogation, Mishra said.
The ranger added that a contractual agency has been awarded road construction in this area. An excavator was being driven by Nira Nayak and Aju Mohant of Rairangpur area. “The duo killed the elephant with the earth mover in a gruesome manner,” he said.
A case has been lodged against the poachers under section 9 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The duo was produced in a court.
According to sources, a baby elephant was also killed earlier by poachers and buried. But its carcass has not been found.
Forest cover has been fast dwindling in Joda mining area due to mining activities. As habitat of the elephants are being destroyed, the animals residing in Khandabandh, Siljoda, Mahaparbat, Chormalda and other areas are sneaking into Kankana, Gugudari, Naupani and other areas.
A herd of nine to 11 elephants are now spotted moving around in Khandabandh forest while seven elephants are roaming in Gugudari, Chamakpur, Naupani and Kankana forests, sources said.
