Two tuskers were found dead at a farm in Gerua village, some 12 km from here, on the foothills of Dalma wildlife sanctuary early Monday morning. Mystery surrounds the death of the elephants whose carcass was found in the bushes.
Sources informed that though the exact cause of death could not be immediately ascertained but forest department suspect pesticide or electrocution to be likely reason. The department is waiting for the autopsy report of the elephants, aged about 35 (female) and 10 (male).
“We are investigating as to what led to their death as it is not a natural death. But as per the initial probe, it seems that the elephants might have consumed pesticide. But it will be too early to draw a conclusion. We are waiting for the post-mortem report,” Dalma range officer R P Singh. The officer, however, did not rule out electrocution. “It is really sadto know about at the death of our elephants. We will take help from local villagers, some of who are members of the Van Samity (forest committee), to find the motive behind the incident,” he stated.
Dalma divisional forest officer Kamlesh Pandey, who visited the spot, said viscera samples will be sent to forensic laboratory of animal husbandary department in Ranchi. “We are waiting for the forensic report of viscera only then things will be clear,” he said.
The post-mortem of the elephants was conducted in the afternoon at the farm itself by a Government veterinary doctor from Patamda in East Singhbhum. local villagers assisted him in the exercise. later, the elephants were buried there with help of a crane. Sources informed that the abdomen of both the elephants was found swollen.
Villagers, including women, assembled at the farm. Some women smeared vermillion on the trunk and forehead of the elephants. Some also placed coins on the carcass and performed customary rituals.
An official of the forest department said that it's the beginning of the harvest season and so is the elephant menace. At several parts of the twin districts of Singhbhum, paddy crops were destroyed by herds of tuskers that have begun their annual migration through the villages.
Rampaging herds of tuskers in the villages are forcing innocent tribal to spend sleepless nights. In an area that boasts of a forest cover of 30 percent, the human-animal conflict is major concern of the people. In past one week, cases of elephant’s regularly damaging standing crops have shot up.