ORISSA IS NUMBER IN ELEPHANT DEATH CASE

ORISSA IS NUMBER IN ELEPHANT DEATH CASE

ROURKELA (Orissa): An elephant was today found dead at Kunjur reserve forest in Sundergarh district, a forest official said.

The tusk is missing from the carcass and it is suspected that poachers fled with it after killing the animal, the official said, adding the exact cause of death will be ascertained after a postmortem examination.

(Orissa): Two elephants were killed when they came in contact with high tension electric wire in Orissa's Keonjhar district, police said. 
KEONJHAR 
The incident took place at Budhamba village under Telkoi range of Keonjhar forest division this morning. Both the victims were female and aged about 25 years, a forest official said. 

The two animals allegedly died as the high tension wire fell on them while passing through the village. 

Today's double death of elephants follows incidents of similar three others in the same area in July last year, forest officials said.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Growing elephant deaths in Orissa raise alarm

Bhubaneswar: In the last 19 years in Orissa, 231 elephants fell victim to poachers while 166 were killed in accidentBhubaneswar: In the last 19 years in Orissa, 231 elephants fell victim to poachers while 166 were killed in accidents and 173 more died from natural causes, says a wildlife NGO. While the government gives more conservative estimates, experts say there is enough cause for alarm. Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of NGO Wildlife Society of Orissa, said at least 155 of the elephants died due to electrocution in over 10 years. "Immediate measures are required if we want to protect the elephants. The animals are dying due to lack of proper measures by the government," a worried Mohanty said. "Wildlife has little chance to survive due to rapid loss of habitat in the state which is obsessed with mining and industrialisation," he added. "The State Board for Wildlife, a high-power body chaired by the chief minister, has not met even once in 

the last two years, though it is mandatory that a meeting takes place every six months," he said. There has been no meeting of honorary wildlife wardens in the last two years, Mohanty pointed out. "This clearly reveals the abject apathy of the forest department to engage with wildlife experts and conservationists who can provide valuable inputs and advice for protection of wildlife in the state," he said. "The department is wary of calling meetings as they might face uncomfortable questions about their abject failure to protect wildlife and allow mining in wildlife-rich areas," he claimed. Activist Ranjit Pattnaik, another wildlife expert, said: "It is really alarming the way elephants are dying. The central as well as the state governments need to take urgent measures to protect these mammals." s and 173 more died from natural causes, says a wildlife NGO. While the government gives more conservative estimates, experts say there is enough cause for alarm.

Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of NGO Wildlife Society of Orissa, said at least 155 of the elephants died due to electrocution in over 10 years.

"Immediate measures are required if we want to protect the elephants. The animals are dying due to lack of proper measures by the government," a worried Mohanty said.

"Wildlife has little chance to survive due to rapid loss of habitat in the state which is obsessed with mining and industrialisation," he added.

"The State Board for Wildlife, a high-power body chaired by the chief minister, has not met even once in the last two years, though it is mandatory that a meeting takes place every six months," he said.

There has been no meeting of honorary wildlife wardens in the last two years, Mohanty pointed out.

"This clearly reveals the abject apathy of the forest department to engage with wildlife experts and conservationists who can provide valuable inputs and advice for protection of wildlife in the state," he said.

"The department is wary of calling meetings as they might face uncomfortable questions about their abject failure to protect wildlife and allow mining in wildlife-rich areas," he claimed.

Activist Ranjit Pattnaik, another wildlife expert, said: "It is really alarming the way elephants are dying. The central as well as the state governments need to take urgent measures to protect these mammals."