Odisha’s First Kumki Elephant Dies Of Septicemia

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s first kumki elephant, Nanda, died of septicemia (blood poisoning by bacteria), the postmortem report revealed on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old, which had helped forest authorities in curbing elephant menace across the state, had died at Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, on Monday morning. It was unable to stand up due to bacterial infection in the leg and was administered saline along with anti-biotics by veterinary doctors from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and Nandankanan zoo. However, it showed no improvement and eventually died.

Following the postmortem, the carcass of the jumbo was buried in the sanctuary in the presence of senior forest officials.

Nanda was born to the elephant ‘Basanti’ at Nandankanan zoo in 1987. It was shifted to Kumarakhunti of Chandaka in October 2010, where the animal was trained to prevent the menace of stray elephants. Notably, it had killed a mahout, Radha Raman Singh, during training in the zoo in 1997.