Boko: In a tragic incident highlighting the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife, the carcasses of two wild elephants were recovered from separate locations within the West Kamrup Divisional Forest area in Assam on Monday.
Villagers from Pakharapara and nearby areas under Singra Range discovered the first carcass in a paddy field and immediately informed the state forest department.
Singra Forest Range Officer Bhargab Hazarika, who led a forest team to the site, confirmed the discovery of a young male elephant, estimated to be under 10 years old.
The officer said that upon receiving information about a dead elephant in the Mouman Reserve Forest area, they promptly reached the site. Although the exact cause of death was yet to be determined, the officer informed that preliminary evidence suggested that it may be due to electrocution, which some people illegally use to deter elephants from damaging their crops.
Hazarika informed that materials associated with electrocution were reportedly found near the site, and a post-mortem examination is underway to confirm the cause of death.
In a similar incident, villagers in Dhangargaon under Kulshi Forest Range found another elephant carcass in a paddy field and alerted the forest department. Kulshi Forest Range Officer Kankan Jyoti Kaushik reported that the elephant, a 25-year-old male, also appeared to be a victim of electrocution.
The officer informed that post-mortem report is awaited to confirm the cause of death. The officer warned that it electrocution is confirmed, strict action will be initiated against those responsible.
The Singra and Kulshi Forest Ranges, both fall under the West Kamrup Divisional Forest Office.
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