Tusker found dead, food poisoning suspected

A 20-year-old tusker was found dead in the field of a local farmer at Ranimajra area of the district on Friday morning, according to eyewitnesses. No external injury or sign of electrocution was found on the tusker’s body. After the post-mortem, the animal was cremated. Confirming the death, deputy DFO Sant Ram said the sample from abdomen cavity has been sent to the laboratory for further analysis.

He said prima facie, the death might have been caused by food poisoning. Pesticides widely used by the locals in their agricultural fields might have caused the death, he added.  locals said the female partner of the tusker was wandering around the area.  Rajkumar, a local farmer from Ranimajhra area under the Haridwar district, found the carcass of the tusker while  visiting his field routinely early in the morning. He informed the police control room on 100. The message was then passed on to the  district forest department. Forest team accompanied by doctors and team of experts subsequently reached the spot.