PCCF forms spcl team to probe Athagarh elephant death, recovery of skeletal remains

Bhubaneswar: The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) today formed a special team to probe death of an elephant and recovery of skeletal remains of jumbos from Athagarh forest division in Cuttack district recently.

The three-member team to be headed by Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) will comprise a wildlife conservator and a senior official of Crime Branch. However, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) will no longer be a part of the investigation.

Earlier yesterday, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change sought an action taken report (ATR) from the state Forest Department on the incident, where a male elephant was found injured with gun shots in Athagarh forest division of Cuttack district,

In a letter, the Ministry asked PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Sashi Paul to look into the matter and take strict action as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It also directed the official to submit a detailed action taken report on the incident through email at the earliest.

Also Read: Environment Ministry seeks report from Odisha Forest Department on elephant death due to gun shots

On June 7, a tusker was found injured with five to six bullet shots on its body, including head, trunk and leg. Later, veterinary doctors from Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Nandankanan Zoological Park and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) were engaged for its treatment.

However, on June 14, the Forest Department informed that the 10-year-old elephant succumbed to injuries.