Bhubaneswar: Kharsel, a 65-year-old elephant, died at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday.
Kharsel, which was in captivity for many years, died due to old age, informed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anshu Pragyan Das.
Kharsel’s movement had become slow over the past five to six months, and it had stopped eating and drinking. The elephant was tranquillized and brought to Debrigarh from Balangir’s Kharsel Jungle in 1998 after it attacked and killed several people.
The sanctuary staff had been taking care of Kharsel, but its health had been deteriorating due to its advanced age. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
According to sources, Kharsel became a legendary animal after being captured in July 1995 in Bolangir, thanks to the efforts of the then DFO. Before its capture, Kharsel had been wreaking havoc in the region, attacking numerous people, damaging crops, and destroying thousands of houses. The Forest Department faced significant challenges in taming the unruly pachyderm, which had become a dominant force in the area for over a decade. Initially, Kharsel was housed in Bolangir before being transferred to Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary. Four years later, in 1999, it was relocated to Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur district, under the jurisdiction of Hirakud Wildlife DFO, where it remained until its passing.
