3 elephants found dead in Similipal

BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE: In a chilling reminder of last year’s elephant poaching spree in Similipal, three elephants were found dead in Ektalia forests under Karanjia forest division on Friday.Besides a male and a female, carcass of a calf was found. The tusk of the male elephant was missing fuelling fears of poisoning, as is suspected by the wildlife officials too. “A forensic officer will proceed to the spot on Saturday morning to collect evidence,” said Field Director Anup Kumar Nayak.Help of police has also been sought to delve into the details.The spot, where the carcass of elephants were found, was the bordering area of Gudgudia and Dudhiani ranges. The carcasses had begun to decompose though the exact degree of decomposition will be ascertained only after the scientific team reaches there. Last year, Similipal shot to national headlines after a series of elephant deaths were detected in the interior pockets where patrolling had become a casualty after Maoist strikes.The then Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh had sent a team to investigate which pointed at inadequate infrastructure, low morale of the field staff and ineffective enforcement to be the main causes. To add to the woes of the already demoralised staff, the State Government closed the national park to visitors making conservation a more difficult affair.