Anugola: A 10-year-old tusker died after coming into contact with an electric snare allegedly laid by hunters to trap wild boars in the Jhillimunda forest under Handapa forest range in Anugola district, with three of the four suspected poachers arrested, forest officials said.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday evening when the elephant came along a forest path and got caught in an electrified trap connected to an 11-KV power line running through the area from Boinda to Paikasahi.
According to preliminary information, four poachers had allegedly tapped the high-voltage line to set up the trap for hunting wild boars. The elephant died after coming into contact with the live wire.
Veterinary doctor Lipsalina Tripathy of Thakurgarh said the elephant’s post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday, following which the carcass was buried at the site.
Athmallik Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Santosh Kumar Kapula said the three arrested suspects had been taken to the Handapa Range office and further investigation was underway. He also said a high-level inquiry would be conducted into the incident and action taken against forest personnel assigned to night duty.
Forest officials have withheld the identities of the arrested persons, citing concerns that disclosure could hamper the investigation.
The incident has also raised concerns over alleged lapses in preventing illegal electric trapping in the forest area. Villagers claimed that such snares were being used regularly to hunt wild boars and other animals, while the Forest Department’s response had been inadequate.
With this death, the number of elephants killed in the forest division over the past 36 months has risen to 38, highlighting the continuing threat to wildlife in the region.
