Anandapur/Keonjhar: The carcass of an elephant was recovered from Pitanau Kadakata forest under Hadagarh sanctuary in Keonjhar district Saturday. Anandapur DFO Ajit Kumar Satpathy informed that the tusker was killed during a conflict with another tusker at Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary under Anandapur Wildlife Division in Keonjhar district. The 30-year-old tusker fell off a hill during the clash and succumbed to injuries, informed the Anandapur DFO. The body was recovered Friday. The veterinary doctors and forest officials carried out the post-mortem on the body Saturday. All the organs of the deceased elephant were found intact.
The cause of death of the elephant will be ascertained after the autopsy, the official stated. However, a local BJP leader Tukuna Mohant alleged that the elephant had been killed by poachers to smuggle its tusks. He has twitted his suspicion, linking the Chief Minister, the 5T secretary and the PMO. According to reports, a herd of eight elephants was roaming inside the forest Friday. The battle took place between two tuskers during the period. Their fight worsened subsequently killing one of them in the wildlife habitat, locals said.