At least eight jumbos have perished in Athagarh Forest Division in the last nine months.
According to official report, one elephant in Athagarh , three in Badamba, three in Khuntuni and one in Narsinghpur(west) forest range areas died in last nine months.
Three among these pachyderms were tuskers in which the poachers were successful in removing the tusks. In other cases, female and calf elephants were killed either by electrocution or due to diseases.
But in all these cases, the Forest department is yet to ascertain the cause of the death of the jumbos. On last Wednesday, a female elephant was found dead near Paikerapur village under Khuntuni range. The cause of its death could not revealed by the department. Similarly on last Tuesday, the decomposed body of a tusker was found in Haladiaseni reserve forest under Badamba range, tusks of which were taken away.
After ten to twelve days of its murder, the forest officials knew about it wood cutters.
Even though the Government spends lakhs of rupees for the protection of the jungle and wild animals, due to negligence in patrolling in forest areas and nexus of some unscrupulous forest officials with the mafias and poachers, poaching has not been controlled.
Asked DFO Arun Swain declined to opine on the matter when contacted. locals have demanded that the higher authorities must look into the matter and take urgent steps.