Keonjhar: Forest officials found an elephant calf’s decomposed carcass in Barbanka reserve forest under Deobandh section of Ghatagaon forest range in Keonjhar district as people and various organisations observed World Elephant Day, Monday. Coming close on the heels of the recovery of a female elephant carcass in Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern district and coinciding with the international annual event dedicated to the preservation and protection of pachyderms, the discovery has evoked sharp reactions among nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Sources said the calf belonged to a seven-member herd that is moving around the forests under Deobandh section. The carcass was found lying near Raghubeda dam around 60 metre from Santrapur village under Ghatgaon range of Keonjhar forest division. The calf, a female, is estimated to be aged within three to seven years. Circumstantial evidence suggested that she might have died less than a week ago. The matter came to the fore after locals who had gone to collect firewood from the jungle spotted the decomposed carcass through the stench and informed Forest officials. Preliminary investigation indicated that someone tried to burn the carcass.
However, it can be confirmed only after the investigation is completed, Forest officials said. Informed, Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs) Jitendra Behera, Ashok Das and Surendra Hembram rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. A team of veterinarians conducted a post-mortem of the carcass before burying it at the spot. The Forest officials ruled out electrocution as the cause of the calf’s death as there is no power source within 1km radius of the spot. The veterinary team has taken samples for examination. Divisional Forest Officer Dhanraj HD said the officials of Centre for Wildlife Health have been contacted to ascertain the actual reason behind the animal’s death.
Questions have been raised on the efficiency of the Forest department as the incident dawned upon the officials only a week of the calf’s death. The lackadaisical attitude has sparked anger and resentment among animal lovers as they alleged that the elephant tracking report submitted by the field staff is a complete failure. The report submitted by the field staff claimed the calf to be alive and present with the herd, though it had died a week back. It is clear from this incident that the field staff often submits wrong reports about the presence of elephants without actually visiting the field and taking stock of the pachyderms, they further alleged.
Notably, five years back, the decomposed carcass of a tusker was recovered from Gayalmunda village in Barbanka reserve forest. Official sources said that 12 elephants died under Keonjhar forest division in the year 2022-23, whereas in 2023-24 the fatalities rose to 18. In the current financial year (2024-25) death of seven elephants has been reported so far. Altogether, at least 37 elephants have perished in the forest division in the last three years.
On the other hand, 139 elephants are moving in different forests under Keonjhar forest division. The animals are wandering aimlessly and often straying into human habitats due to the destruction of the forest cover as well as loss of their natural habitats and the elephant corridors. Though the Forest Department has been implementing various plans for the protection of elephants, it has failed miserably in safeguarding the gentle giants. A sharp rise in man-animal conflict is being witnessed almost all around the year. Despite the huge amounts of funds spent every year for the protection of wild animals, the unchecked death of the pachyderms has sparked serious concern among environmentalists and animal lovers