Kandhamal: A female elephant was allegedly shot dead by poachers near a village under Baliguda forest division in Kandhamal district on Wednesday.
According to sources, the elephant had strayed into human habitation a few days back owing to intense cold wave conditions. It had been on the target of the poachers since then.
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Locals alleged that the elephant was pregnant and fell prey to the bullets as the forest department took no step to ensure its safety.
The forest officials, however, said that the exact cause of the jumbo’s death would be known only after they receive the postmortem report.
