After a mother-calf elephant duo died due to electrocution in Dalijoda jungle on Sunday last, another tusker was killed in poaching which was reported on Friday morning. And, as if it was not enough, the fourth elephant death case has been reported in Athagarh Forest Division area in quick succession.
According to sources, the pachyderm was suffering from diarrhoea for long in Narsinghpur (east) range area which spotted by the forest officials on March 16. The ailing tusker was rescued and was given treatment. However on March 20, it went missing all at once and the next day was found dead at Haduanala of Dalaka forest.
Range Officer Uttam Gadnayak brought it to the notice of his bosses and on their direction, buried it there without taking its visual. When this correspondent communicated him, the later answered that since he had not taken camera with him to the spot he has no photograph of the dead pachyderm and since newspapers publications remained closed for holidays, he could not intimate the matter to the Press for taking snaps.
The official’s stand makes it clear that the Forest Department is trying its level best to hide any type of irregularities. Since Athagarh has no permanent DFO and Chandaka DFO is in its additional charges, reportedly some unscrupulous forest officers are in regular touch with the mafias and poachers for vested interest. No officer allegedly is visiting the fields. Jungle and wildlife lovers here have urged the Government to appoint a regular DFO to curb the unethical practices.