The Hindu : Karnataka News : Death of elephants still a mystery

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Monday, Nov 17, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Death of elephants still a mystery

K.V. Subramanya

They died in Nagarahole Park between June 2006 and May 2007

CHICKBALLAPUR: Even as the Karnataka High Court has taken a serious note of the recent deaths of elephants and sought a report from the State Government, authorities concerned have still not been able to ascertain the cause of the suspicious death of eight wild elephants in the Metikuppe Reserve Forest Range in Nagarahole National Park between June 2006 and May 2007.

Eight elephants died between June 8, 2006 and May 30, 2007, five deaths occurring during 2007. The carcasses were found at Hemmagundihalli, Gudihalli, Gonikalada Kaadu, Andigerehalli (two animals), Gowdanakatte, Anekandahara and Dabbahalla.

The autopsy was conducted by local veterinarians and the reports said the cause of death could not be ascertained because the carcasses of the elephants — six female and two male — were highly decomposed, sources in the CID Forest Cell told The Hindu.

The sources expressed doubts over whether six of the dead animals were really female and said this had to be ascertained. Eight elephants dying in the same geographical area was itself a cause for concern, they said. In four cases, the autopsy was conducted by B.C. Venkatram of the Metikuppe Forest Range and in three by C. Prakash, Veterinary Officer, H.D. Kote. In the latest incident, Nagaraju, Veterinary Officer, Mysore, conducted the autopsy.

In the mahazar (spot inspection) report, Forest Department officials had declared that the elephant that died on May 30, 2007 was a “makhna” (a male elephant without tusks). However, after autopsy, the doctor confirmed that it was a normal male elephant. As the tusks were missing, a case of ivory theft was subsequently registered in the H.D. Kote police station.

Forest Department officials provided no information in the mahazar reports on what happened to the tusks of the male elephant that died on May 10, 2007. The mahazar reports indicate that neither the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) nor the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) visited the area or conducted spot inspection, the sources said.

On June 6, 2005, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests passed an order that if a Schedule 1 animal dies, the DCF should visit the spot, conduct the mahazar and arrange for taking photographs of the scene. But no photographs were taken of these incidents though the elephant is a Schedule1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, the sources said.

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