The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Carcasses in Bandipur park pose risk to wild animals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Carcasses in Bandipur park pose risk to wild animals

Raghava M.

Eight elephants were found dead in the park between June 2006-June 2007

The earlier practice was to burn the carcasses
It was stopped and the carcasses were left for wild boar

LEFT TO THE ELEMENTS: Dead and posing a danger to wildlife.

BANGALORE: Flouting well laid-out guidelines enunciated by the Supreme Court, forest officials at the Bandipur National Park have left the carcasses of wild elephants as food for other animals, an official inquiry has revealed.

Eight elephants were found dead at the park between June 2006 and June 2007.

The State Police (Forest Cell), which is inquiring into the elephants’ deaths, found that the carcasses were left in the forest without either being buried or cremated.

Forest officials said the earlier practice was to burn the carcasses. However, following instructions from higher-ups, this was stopped in favour of leaving the carcasses to animals such as wild boar, the officials told The Hindu.

But Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) I.B. Srivastava denies any such instructions were issued.

He said the department has laid down guidelines for disposal of bodies of wild animals, which are in accordance with Supreme Court rulings. In case of the death of a tiger or a leopard, the carcass should be burnt. In case of elephants, “it is left to the discretion of the local officer to either bury or burn it. It should not be left in open for other animals,” he said.

The Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biological officials said that disposing bodies this way could lead to the spread of diseases, including anthrax and foot-and-mouth diseases.

Infection

“Carcasses should either be buried or burnt. This will prevent the spread of infection among animals that feed on them,” said an officer, who wished to be anonymous.

There have been several instances of wild animals being infected by anthrax.

In March 2004, three elephants died of anthrax suspected to have been carried by cattle, in the Nagarahole National Park.

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