Elephant found dead in Corbett reserve

MANY ELEPHANTS HAVE DIED IN THE STATE IN THE LAST ONE YEAR OR SO. ON APRIL 7, ONE DIED DUE TO INFIGHTING AT GAUHRI RANGE OF RAJAJI TIGER RESERVE. IN FEB, AN ELEPHANT WAS KILLED IN A TRAIN HIT INCIDENT IN NAINITAL DISTRICT.

HALDWANI: The carcass of a 15-year-old elephant was found in Khinanauli block in Dhikala forest range of Corbett tiger reserve on Friday evening, said forest officials.

Rahul (who goes by his first name), director of Corbett Tiger Reserve said, “The forest patrolling staff of the CTR spotted wild tusker’s carcass at Khinanauli block-23 in Dhikala zone.”

He said a forest team was rushed to spot on information.

“After a post-mortem, the elephant was cremated,” he said.

Dushyant Sharma, senior veterinarian of CTR said, “The carcass had no injury marks and two tusks of the elephant were intact. So it is likely that it died due to some disease”.

He said the elephants intestines were sticking out. “It was suffering from some stomach disease for long time ” he said.

He added that viscera of the elephant has been sent for tests to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun and IVRI Bareilly.

Many elephants have died in the state in the last one year or so. On April 7, an elephant died due to infighting at Gauhri range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. In February, an elephant was killed in a train hit incident in Nainital district. In the same month, two elephants died in infighting in Motichur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. On August 18 last year, two elephants died in a train hit incident in Peepal Padao forest range of Kumaon. On February 8, carcass of a 40-year-old elephant was found in Motahaldu forest range of in Terai East Forest division in Nainital district. In December last year, the carcass of a 15-year-old elephant was found in Kaladhungi forest range in Nainital district.

A 50-year-old male elephant was killed in an infighting with another in Motichur range of Uttarakhand’s Rajaji Tiger Reserve in February, forest officials said. In the past decade, around four elephants died due to infighting in Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the adjacent forest terrain, Tamta said.

Around two years ago in March 2020, a 16-year-old male elephant was killed in Khadkhadi beat of Rajaji reserve after an infighting with another male elephant.

Wildlife experts say fight between elephants is a natural phenomenon. The infighting is noticed during the mating season that has started.