Jumbo calf carcass found in Khuntuni

CUTTACK: Carcass of an elephant calf was found at Paikarapur village under Khuntuni range of Athagarh forest division in Cuttack on Wednesday morning.Some locals spotted the carcass in the backyard of a villager’s house and informed forest officials, who reached the village under Mancheswar panchayat and started a probe. Although the exact reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the 8-year-old female calf died of electrocution on Tuesday night. Sources said a vegetable farm near the spot was fenced with electric wires, which were removed immediately after the incident.

“The carcass has been buried after an autopsy by Athagarh Block Veterinary Officer (BVO) Susant Kumar Behera,” said Khuntuni Range Officer Ratnakar Das. Though preliminary veterinary investigation revealed that the calf was anaemic with roundworm infection, necessary steps have been taken for an autopsy and materials sent to OUAT, Das informed.

On June 29, 2017 a five-year-old male elephant calf was found dead at Oraba field in Baniabandha reserve forest under Khuntuni range. The forest officials had clarified that the calf’s health condition was not good and his death was due to natural reasons. Meanwhile, environmentalists have urged forest department to take up necessary steps to avoid such deaths in future.