Bantala: A tusker was electrocuted after coming in contact with the livewires at a farm in Pokatunga village under Angul forest division while the carcass of a female elephant was recovered from Behera Sahi village under Tikarpada forest range in Satkosia sanctuary, a report said Monday.
The Pokatunga incident came to the fore after a farmer Amulya Pradhan (60) alias Abu, claiming responsibility for the tusker’s electrocution, surrendered before the forest ranger.
On being informed, Dhanraj Ambir Hanumant, ranger (in-charge)-cum-IFS probationer, ACF Srikant Behera, DFO V Kartik, deputy director district animal husbandry department, Bharat Chandra Gadnaik, rushed to the spot and seized the carcass of the tusker. The animal was believed to be about 40 years old.
Pradhan has claimed that he had drawn the wires to light up his farmland so as to keep away wild animals from straying into his farm.
When contacted, the DFO rejected the farmer’s claim and said the truth will be known after completion of a probe.
Both the carcasses were buried after completion of post-mortem, forest officials said.
PNN