Bokaro: A sub-adult elephant was discovered dead in the Dhobari forest area under the Sariya range of Giridih district on Thursday. Forest officials suspect the animal may have succumbed to natural causes after becoming entangled in dense creepers and remaining without food or water for an extended period.
Investigation Underway
Forest personnel and a veterinary doctor promptly arrived at the scene to inspect the area and initiate a probe into the incident. Hazaribag (East) Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vikas Ujjwal provided insights into the preliminary findings.
Prima Facie Observations
“The circumstances suggest that the elephant might have become trapped in thick creepers, which possibly led to its death. Prima facie, the death appears natural as there were no injury marks on the body, the tusks were intact, and there were no signs of poisoning or foul play,” Ujjwal stated.
Details of the Elephant
The elephant, estimated to be between 12 and 15 years of age, is believed to have been part of a 25-member herd that passed through the area a few days ago. Preliminary investigation indicated that the elephant may have died four to five days before the carcass was discovered.
Protocol Followed
The carcass was cremated in accordance with government protocol. A detailed report has been submitted to the headquarters for further review. Forest officials continue to probe the exact cause of death to rule out any other factors.
