Boinda: A 10-year-old tusker was electrocuted after getting caught in an electric snare allegedly laid to hunt wild boars in the Jhillimunda forest area under the Handapa forest range in Anugola district Monday night. Following the incident, forest officials conducted raids and arrested three of the four alleged poachers late Monday night. The forest department has withheld the names of the arrested men, citing concerns that disclosure could hamper the investigation. The arrested suspects have been taken to the Handapa forest range office for questioning. The investigation is underway.
Preliminary findings indicated that, an 11-kV power line runs from Boinda towards the Paika Sahi area through Jhillimunda. Poachers allegedly tap the high-voltage transmission line to set electric snares for wild boars. The four suspects reportedly used a hook to draw power from the line and lay a trap in the forest Monday morning. The tusker, while moving through the area, came in contact with the live snare and was electrocuted.
On being informed, Athamallik Divisional Forest Officer Santosh Kapula, Handapa Range Officer Minati Nayak and other forest personnel visited the spot and recovered the carcass. Veterinary officials, including Kishorenagar block additional veterinary officer Bijnya Baidenttika, Athamallik block veterinary officer Sarita Behera and Thakurgada veterinary officer Lipsa Lina Tripathy, conducted a postmortem examination of the carcass. The elephant was later buried near the spot.
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