A one-month-old elephant calf was discovered dead in the Sanghaposhi forest area under the Reamal range in the Deogarh forest division on Saturday. Forest officials conducted a postmortem examination and buried the carcass at the site.
Investigation and Response
Acting on a tip-off from the Reamal range officer at around 6 am, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Deogarh, along with the Assistant Conservator of Forests (Administration), range staff, and a forest squad, immediately rushed to the location. The calf’s mother was found near the body and initially prevented the officials from approaching. Forest personnel managed to drive her away to allow for a thorough examination of the carcass.
Postmortem and Sample Collection
The Deputy Director of the District Veterinary Hospital in Deogarh and the Block Veterinary Officer of Reamal also arrived at the scene. After completing the postmortem, the calf was buried. Internal organs have been preserved and will be sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health in Bhubaneswar for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause of death.
Suspected Cause
Rashmi G, Divisional Forest Officer of Deogarh forest division, stated: “Prima facie, the death is suspected to be due to pneumonia or a similar infection. The exact cause will be confirmed after test results are received.”
The forest department is monitoring the area to ensure the safety of other wildlife. Further updates will be provided once laboratory results are available.
