Pregnant elephant found dead in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Chamarajanagara: A pregnant wild elephant, estimated to be around 35 years old, was found dead on private land near Gopalaswamy Betta in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, raising fresh concerns over wildlife safety in the region.

The carcass was found in a private agricultural plot located about 150 metres from the forest boundary in the Gopalaswamy Betta range of Gundlupet taluk. Forest department officials visited the spot after receiving information and conducted an inspection.Veterinarian Dr Mirza Wasim carried out a post-mortem examination, during which the presence of a foetus in the elephant’s abdomen was confirmed. However, preliminary information about the age of the unborn calf was not consistent, and an official clarification is awaited.

Forest personnel suspect that the elephant may have died following a violent confrontation with another wild elephant. The exact cause of death, however, will be established only after the post-mortem findings are examined. The incident comes amid growing concern over a series of wildlife-related incidents in Bandipur.

A few days ago, a tiger was reportedly killed after getting caught in a snare in the Hongalli Beat of the Maddur range. Subsequently, an elephant carcass was found near Karadikallu Gudda, with its tusks missing.

The suspected involvement of the Bawariya gang from Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district had been raised in connection with earlier poaching incidents. Members of the gang had been arrested in a 2009 tiger poaching case near Gundal Dam in Kollegala. However, their involvement in the recent incidents has not been established. The latest elephant death has renewed questions about wildlife protection and forest patrolling in the reserve.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India