A wild tusker from the herd of 24 elephants from Chhattisgarh, which stabled in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, died due to electrocution, on Tuesday, at village Chitki in Sindewahi forest range of Brahmapuri division under Chandrapur Circle. This is the first incident of elephant death recorded in past 100 years within Maharashtra, informed Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chandrapur Circle. Forest staff and Rapid Rescue Unit of Sindewahi forest range, on getting information on the tusker’s death, rushed to the spot. They ascertained that the elephant was dead in the boundary of Sindewahi forest range.

 

“Prima-facie, it looks like the elephant might have died due to electrocution after being caught in a live wire laid for the protection of standing crops in village Chitki of the Sindewahi forest range,” said Dr Ramgaonkar. The forest team conducted panchnama of the spot and also examined the carcass of the elephant on the spot as per the SOP of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). “It was a male tusker of around 30-35 years old. We, however, have taken Ashok Borkar (65) and Ajay Borkar (29) under custody and a offence has been registered against them under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927. The further investigation is underway,” said Dr Ramgaonkar. He further informed that there is no presence of wild-elephant in the district since last 100-years.