Binjharpur/Kalahandi: In separate incidents, a wild tusker was captured in Jajpur district while another elephant died in Kalahandi district while undergoing treatment. According to information, the forest department captured a wild tusker from Binjharpur area in Jajpur district after a long exercise, Saturday. The tusker after crossing Palatpur and Nandipur village area under Dasarathpur block entered Pritipur area under Binjharpur block. The tusker had created panic among the residents of this locality when it headed towards the human settlements after destroying the paddy fields. The locals along with the administration and the forest department staff tried to drive away the tusker.
After reaching the spot, Tehsildar Kailas Chandra Mahalik, Alakunda PS IIC, Prashanta Kumar Das, and Divisional Forest officer, Binjharpur Anupama Sahu reviewed the situation. They also alerted the locals. Soon after Cuttack ASF, Soubhagya Kumar Sahu, SFO, Anil Ray, Forester, Cuttack Sukanta Behera, Forester Bhadrak, Preetirani Dash, Chowdwar Forester Manorama Hota, and Alakunda PS ASI, Rashmita Dixit reached the spot and made a plan to capture the tusker. The special team from Nandankanan and forest department officers along with the police administration captured the tusker, Saturday.
In another incident, a wild elephant died while being treated near Gandharabaru village of Kamarda section under Narla range of Kahalandi North Forest Division in Kahalandi district late Friday night. Locals first spotted the sick elephant in the daytime and informed the forest department. Later veterinary doctors and forest employees, under the guidance of Narla forest department officer Prashant Pal, started treatment of the sick elephant. However, they could not save it. The exact reason for the elephant’s death will be ascertained after the post-mortem, said the forest official.
