Big cats killed elephant in KWS, reveals infrared camera footage
BAHRAICH : The tusker that was found dead in Katarniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) a few days back was killed by tigers, revealed the footage of the infrared cameras installed to monitor activities of the big cats after the elephant carcass was found. The footage showed the big cats eating the body of the tusker on Sunday evening, said field director Sanjay Pathak. He said now it was confirmed that the tusker was killed by tigers.
To note, the body of a male tusker, aged about 20 years, was found in cane bushes near the trans-Geruwa area under the KWS. Field director (FD) Dudhwa National Park (DNP) Sanjay Pathak, divisional forest officer (DFO) KWS Yashwant, WWF project officer Dabeer Hasan and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) men reached the spot.
After seeing the body of the tusker, Sanjay Pathak said that the animal might have died two days ago. He further said pug marks of more than one tiger were found near the spot. Besides, the body was found stuck in cane bushes and flesh near the neck, ears and trunk was eaten. “The entire scene indicates that the tusker was attacked by tigers,” Pathak added.
DFO, KWS, Yashwant said that tusks and other parts of the body were safe.
He said four infrared cameras had been installed in the area to monitor further activities of the tigers as they may return to the spot to eat their hunt. “Forest guards and SSB men have also been deployed in the area,” he said. “It was one of the rare occurrences in the KWS so far,” said World Wildlife Fund (WWF) project officer Dabeer Hasan.