Mayurbhanj: Two elephants died in separate incidents in Khurda and Mayurbhanj districts, raising concerns about the declining elephant population in the state.
In the first incident, a female Makhna elephant died in the Chandaka forest area. The elephant was found lying ill in the Darutheng Bhuasuni Mauja by the Chandaka forest officials on Friday morning, and a veterinary team from Nandankanan Zoological Park was called in for primary treatment.
The team administered antibiotics and saline and collected blood samples for testing. By 4 pm, the elephant had regained consciousness and was able to stand and walk a short distance. The forest department was monitoring its movement. To everyone’s surprise, the elephant was found dead this morning. The post-mortem report is awaited to determine the cause of death.
In the second incident, a male elephant died in the Sarimula protected forest under the Rasgobindpur range in Mayurbhanj district. The elephant, estimated to be around 8-10 years old, was found dead in the Betanasia village area. The cause of death is yet to be determined, and a team of forest officials is investigating the matter.
As per reports, a herd of elephants from Jharkhand has been spotted in the area recently, and it is suspected that the deceased elephant may have been part of this herd.
A team of veterinarians is conducting a post-mortem examination, collecting samples for testing at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar. The test results will help determine the cause of death.
The death of these elephants has raised concerns about the increasing human-elephant conflict in the state and the need for conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures.
