Angul: Decomposed bodies of two elephants were recovered by forest personnel in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district of Odisha here today. The carcasses were found near Jagannathpur village in compartment - 9 of Tainsi reserve forest under Pampasar range. While one of them was a tusker, another was a female pachyderm. As per reports, the jumbo carcasses lying along the road were spotted by cattle herders in the morning.

Forest officials on getting information reached the spot and started investigation.

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It is suspected that the jumbos died after coming in contact with live wire. It seems the elephants were electrocuted around four days back, given the state of decomposition of the carcasses, official sources said adding that an 11 KV wire had been laid at the spot where the bodies of the jumbos were found. The wire has been seized.

"The male tusker seems to be around 15 years old and the female around 4-5 years.  We are trying to find out why the wire was laid and track suspected poaching activity. Some cables have been seized. But we are not sure if they were used for poaching recently or for any other purpose and are waiting for inputs from the electrical inspector. The department has been ensuring regular patrolling in the area and this is an extremely unfortunate incident for Satkosia sanctuary," said Satkosia DFO Saroj Panda.