Elephant dies due to electric shock

RUDRAPUR: A ten-year-old male elephant died due to electric shock in a village near Lalkuan in Nainital district on Monday, forest department officials said.

Villagers of Bachachi Dharma spotted the elephant lying in a field. When they went near it, they noticed no movement in the pachyderm. High-tension power lines were hanging low at the spot where the elephant was found dead. Sandeep Kumar, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Terai-east forest division, said, “A post-mortem examination was conducted by a panel of veterinary doctors after which forest officials buried the carcass of the elephant after removing his tusks. We will register a case as it seems that negligence by electricity officials led to the elephant’s death.”

Rukmani Negi, Bachachi Dharma village head, said, “We informed forest officials about the incident and they took the elephant’s body into possession. We have requested the electricity department several times to tighten the lines but it has not been done. The elephant’s death is a dereliction of duty by electricity officials.”

On November 24, a 35-yearold male elephant that was successfully radio-collared in Haridwar forest division in October died due to electrocution. In the second week of November, a female elephant had died in the Lachhiwala forest range of Dehradun due to electrocution.

Rescued leopard dies

A 7-year-old male leopard, which was rescued from Tanakpur of Champawat district, died at rescue centre in Ranibag of Nainital on Monday, said Babu Lal, SDO, Khatima forest. “A person of Tanakpur has been arrested for involvement.”