Ranchi: A male elephant sustained injuries on his leg after accidentally stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Koyna forest range in West Singhbhum district on Monday. This incident marks the sixth such occurrence in the region in recent times, according to Saranda divisional forest officer (DFO) Aviroop Sinha.
Details of the Incident
The DFO informed the media that the forest department learned about the incident only in the morning and promptly dispatched a medical team to the spot. He emphasized the risks involved, stating, "Venturing into these sensitive areas is risky even for foresters." The elephant's front leg was fractured due to the explosion.
Context and Concerns
The repeated incidents of elephants stepping on IEDs raise serious concerns about wildlife safety and the presence of explosive devices in forest areas. The forest department is working to provide medical treatment to the injured elephant and is investigating the source of the IEDs.
This event highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wildlife in regions affected by human conflicts and the need for enhanced measures to protect animals from such hazards.
