BALASORE: An elephant, which was recently found dead in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, is believed to have been killed by a tusker.
“There was a wide injury mark on the pachyderm’s abdomen. The elephant might have refused to accept a tusker’s mating call following which it was attacked,” said DFO (Karanjia) Prasanna Kumar Behera.
A patrolling team spotted carcass of the 40-year-old elephant at Champagarh under Kendumundi range of Karanjia division. With this, seven elephants have died in Mayurbhanj district in last one month.
Locals suspect that the elephant might have been poisoned and it could be the handiwork of a well-organized poaching racket.
Wildlife activist Vanoo Mitra Acharya suspects that the elephant might have died of anthrax. “Seven pachyderms have been found dead in a month. The disease affects wild animals and spreads fast. The forest department and the district administration should take steps to control it,” he said.