A sub adult female elephant died of anthrax in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). Sources said this was the second episode of anthrax striking the PTR in a span of 10 years.
In the first episode it was again an elephant but a male one then, said PTR sources.According to the divisional forest officer buffer of the PTR AK Mishra this sub adult female elephant was discovered dead with too many blisters on its trunk, tail, belly and ear lobe. Some blisters were dry some were oozing out. The death of this female elephant was noticed on November 23 only.
Mishra is at present also holding the charge of DFO North. Speaking to The Pioneer, Mishra said “Such a disease strikes wildlife and nothing can be any more sorrowful than this.”
A vet doctor autopsied it on November 24 and found blood coming out from the openings of the body of this female dead elephant. The doctor in his post mortem report spoke of anthrax as cause of death, said DFO buffer Mishra.In anthrax oozing of blood even after death from orifices of the victim is the major symptom of this deadly disease.
The DFO buffer said the dead female elephant was not buried, as anthrax dead are not buried but burnt. It took more than an hour to reduce this dead female elephant to ashes.The PTR officials had readied a burial but had to defer the idea because of the anthrax. The burning was done where this female elephant was found dead.
The body of this female elephant was found near the river Kohbarwa the resort of wild life. The place is close to the cross section of Maromaar and Bareysarn compartment ten. High temperature and leaking and dry blisters on her body hastened the death of the female elephant.