The deaths occurred amid the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife not only in India, but across the world.
The carcasses of two wild elephants that died allegedly from electrocution were recovered from separate locations within the West Kamrup Divisional Forest area in the Indian state of Assam on Monday, reports EastMojo.
It comes as a tragic incident highlighting the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife not only in India, but across the world.
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.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists, according to NDTV, raised concern over the incidents and said “In the Mouman Reserve forest area, there are many acres of forest land that have been encroached and the forest department should survey and take necessary action so that the man-elephant conflicts will decrease in the Pakharapara and nearby areas.”
