Report sought from Palamu Reserve

LATEHAR: The Latehar district administration has sought detailed report from Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) officials in the recent death of a captive elephant in Betla National Park area. The elephant was killed by wild elephants on January 18.

Latehar deputy commissioner Abu Imran has written to PTR deputy director (north division) for the second time in four days in this regard, asking him to furnish details about the incident, the reasons that led to the incident and has also asked to explain if the Union government’s guidelines for keeping elephants were adhered to.

The DC said, “There are guidelines drawn by the ministry of environment and forest for keeping captive elephants. The wildlife act also mandates certain measures in this regard. I have sought a detailed report from PTR to check if these guidelines were adhere to.”

“I have also sought to know who ordered for the shifting of captive elephants at a desolate location deep in jungle and that too without trenches,” the DC said, while adding that forest officials should have provided tranquilliser guns to mahaouts to manage such eventualities.

The district administration, however, was yet to receive a reply from PTR despite a reminder.

Meanwhile, a ground level probe conducted by Barwadih block development officer Rakesh Sahay pointed out laxity on part of Betla forest range officer Prem Prasad, under whose jurisdiction the elephants were kept. The BDO had conducted a separate probe following orders from the district administration.

Following the incident, PTR officials decided to shift the four remaining elephants back to the old elephant shed near Betla, besides sending a proposal to the forest department for digging elephant-proof trench around the shed near Palamu Fort.