A 15-year-old wild female elephant, reportedly pregnant, was found dead near Dera on the Baduapali–Jhankarbahali road under the Baduapali panchayat in the Sadar forest range of Sambalpur district. Forest officials suspect the elephant died after coming in contact with a live electric wire while moving out of the Jhankarbahali forest on Wednesday night. Preliminary findings and surrounding circumstances indicate electrocution as the cause of death.
Forest Department Investigation
DFO (Sambalpur) Gopinath Sudarshan Yadav stated that a forest department team rushed to the spot after receiving information from local residents and initiated an investigation. The post-mortem examination of the elephant was completed on Thursday. During the inquiry, officials found that an individual had allegedly drawn an illegal electricity connection from a transformer near the site. The elephant is believed to have come in contact with the unauthorized live wire, leading to its death.
Elephant Herd and Legal Action
Forest officials further stated that the deceased elephant had reportedly strayed from a herd of 14 elephants before the incident. The DFO said action would be taken against the person responsible for the illegal power connection, and an arrest is likely as the investigation progresses.
Concerns Over Illegal Electrification
The incident has once again raised concerns over illegal electrification practices in elephant habitats and the growing threat they pose to wildlife in the region. Authorities are emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement to prevent such tragedies.
