Khuntuni/Bantala: The post-mortem of a tusker which was electrocuted in Angul under torchlight has kicked up a row. Meanwhile, an elephant calf which was rescued from a creek in Cuttack succumbed, a report said Tuesday.
The tusker was electrocuted after coming into contact with livewires laid by farmer Amulya Pradhan, (60), alias Abu at Bhukilapala in Pokatunga village under Bantala forest range in Angul district.
The Pokatunga incident came out after Pradhan, claiming responsibility for the tusker’s electrocution, surrendered before the forest ranger. He was produced in court Tuesday.
Dhanraj Ambir Hanumant, ranger (in-charge)-cum-IFS probationer, ACF Srikant Behera, DFO V. Kartik and the deputy director, district animal husbandry department, Bharat Chandra Gadnaik, seized the tusker’s carcassMonday. The two tusks of the animal aged about 40 were also seized.
Pradhan claimed that he had drawn the wires to light up his farmland to keep away wild animals from straying into his farm.
Later, forest officials conducted the post-mortem of the tusker carcass under torchlight Monday in the darkness of the jungle. The move by the forest officials has drawn flak from residents and animal lovers as it is illegal to conduct post-mortems at night.
In another incident, a three month old elephant calf which was rescued from a creek in Khamar Nuagaon village under Khuntuni forest limits in Cuttack succumbed Tuesday despite the veterinarians making all efforts for its recovery.
The calf died in the wee hours of Tuesday. Later, it was buried inside the Ranibania reserve forest after the veterinarian conducted a post-mortem. This was stated here by ranger Ratnakar Das to the media Tuesday.
The ranger said that locals saw the calf in the creek and informed forest officials August 16. Forest officials rushed to the spot and rescued the calf with the help of elephant trackers.
The calf was administered primary treatment at Gurudijhatia and later brought to the range office where veterinarians administered it treatment. The calf was suffering from diarrhoea as well as fever after remaining for long in the water body.
The veterinarian administered it glucose, milk and baby food everyday and it stood up on its legs and moved inside the office premises. The forest officials were planning to shift it elsewhere for advanced treatment when suddenly it was found dead Tuesday.
PNN
