Odisha Elephant Succumbs to Horrific Injuries After Ingesting Explosive Bait
A tragic incident has unfolded in the forests of Odisha, where a young elephant died a slow and painful death after consuming an explosive-laced bait ball. The 9-year-old tusker suffered catastrophic jaw damage when the device detonated inside its mouth on April 6, leading to a 12-day ordeal of starvation and infection before it finally passed away on Saturday in the Baliguda forest division of Kandhamal district.
A Gruesome Injury and a Desperate Journey
The explosion severely damaged the elephant's tongue and internal tissues, rendering it completely unable to eat or drink. Despite this debilitating injury, the animal embarked on a nearly 200-kilometer journey from the initial incident site in the Balangir forest division. Forest officials reported that the traumatized jumbo remained elusive and isolated, likely fearing further attacks, which prevented early detection of its critical condition.
"We spotted the injured elephant in our territory on April 13," said DFO (Baliguda) Ghanashyam Mahanta. "We immediately began treatment following expert veterinary advice, but the infection from the jaw injury had already spread to other organs. Unfortunately, it did not survive."
Forest Department Launches Investigation
The elephant was finally discovered in the Belghar area of Kandhamal district six days before its death, prompting forest authorities to initiate a comprehensive manhunt for those responsible. A forest officer explained the delayed discovery: "After the bomb exploded in its mouth, it kept itself hidden and isolated. Therefore, forest personnel in Balangir or Kalahandi districts could not see its injury. By the time it reached Kandhamal and was spotted, it was too late for effective intervention."
Following standard protocol, a post-mortem examination was conducted, and the carcass was buried in the presence of officers. DFO Mahanta emphasized the ongoing investigation: "We will coordinate with our counterparts in Balangir and Kalahandi to identify who created and planted this lethal bait bomb in the forest."
A Disturbing Trend in Wildlife Crime
This incident highlights a dangerous new method being employed by poachers in Odisha. Wildlife authorities note that explosive materials are increasingly being used to hunt wild boar, typically blended with dough or concealed inside fruits like pumpkin or pineapple before being discarded in forest areas. In this particular case, officials suspect a watermelon was used as the deadly bait.
The killing of elephants through such explosive bait bombs presents a significant new challenge for forest departments combatting wildlife crime. This method causes immense suffering to the animals and represents a severe threat to endangered species conservation efforts in the region.
