Elephant Electrocution Deaths In Odisha: Forester Suspended, Notice To Electricity Dept

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Keonjhar: Two forest staffers have been placed under suspension and the electricity department of Keonjhar Sadar range served a show-cause notice in connection with the electrocution death of two elephants inside Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Judia, five days ago, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO)HD Dhanral informed on Tuesday.

“The Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) has suspended the forester Pradeep Barik, and forest guard Mitrabhanu Nayak of Sadar range on charges of dereliction of duty,” DFO told the media.

It is pertinent to mention here that a herd of nine elephants entered Krishi Vigyan Kendra in search of food, two among them, about 25-year-old, died as their trunks touched the low-lying electric wire while trying to eat tree branches. Their trunks were stuck with the electric wire when the carcasses were recovered.

Odisha reports one of the highest numbers of deaths of elephants by electrocution in India. Of 86 jumbo deaths in 2021-22 nearly 20 per cent were caused by electrocution, sources in the Wildlife Wing of the Forest department said.

Around 741 such deaths were reported in the country in 10 years till December 2020, of which Odisha recorded the maximum of 133 deaths.