Elephant death report by Feb 10 (India)

Express News Service

26 Jan 2009 

BANGALORE: The State Forest Department’s report on the recent elephant deaths is ready and will be presented to the High Court before February 10, officials said.

Officials at the department told The New Indian Express: “The department had formed two teams to constitute this report.

One headed by Asia’s elephant expert Sukumar, who is a professor at the Centre for Ecology and Environmental Studies and the other headed by retired director of the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB), Dr Gopal. Sukumar was asked to look into the habitat and land of elephants in the state, while Dr Gopal was asked to look into the mananimal conflict and how best it can be avoided in future, they said.

Dr Gopal said: “Since, I am a wildlife veterinarian, I was asked to probe the cause of deaths of these pachyderms.

I was asked to verify whether the deaths were natural or intentional.” He said that cyanide was the reason for the elephant deaths, but did not disclose whether the death was accidental or intentional.

Speaking about his committee, he said: “The committee has six people from Karnataka. The report is being reviewed as of now.” Dr Gopal and forest officials refused to divulge any findings or details of the report.

Prof Sukumar was unavailable for comment.

HC shocked

The Karnataka High Court expressing shock and anguish over the deaths of elephants in the State, had directed the State Forest Department to study, investigate and collect material about the elephant deaths and file a report, on the causes of elephant deaths, lapses on the part of the people involved and reasons and remedial measures to prevent such incidents in future.