VELLORE: You can’t hide an elephant in your backyard. Or so many would believe. But, a man in Gudiyatham in Vellore district buried an elephant on his farmland after it was electrocuted while trying to enter his premises protected by an electric fence.
The 25-year-old male wild elephant, which strayed into the farmland of Lakshmipathi of Kudimipatti near Paradarami extension reserve forest in Gudiyatham, was electrocuted on Saturday after it came in contact with the electric fence. Incidentally, putting up electric fences is prohibited by law. Lakshmipathi lives in Bengaluru and had recently given his two-acre farmland to C Pichandi, 50, of Kudimipatti on lease, a forest officer said.
Pichandi, who grew paddy on the land, had erected the electric fence around the farmland to prevent wild animals from straying and damaging the crop. On Saturday, the elephant, which strayed into the farmland from the nearby Paradarami extension forest, came in contact with the electrified fence and died. Fearing police action, Pichandi tried to cover up the incident and initially concealed the carcass with tree branches and wood.
In the early hours of Sunday, Pichandi with the help of earthmover owner Ashok and operator Selvaraj buried the elephant carcass on the farmland. On receiving a tip, forest and revenue department officials, however, went to the spot on Monday and exhumed the carcass. Following this, an autopsy was conducted in the presence of veterinarians at Kudimipatti.
District forest officer of Vellore Bargav Teja told TOI, “Following a tip, we went to the spot along with revenue officials and secured Selvaraj. Based on his statement, we informed the revenue and veterinary department to exhume the elephant carcass.”
An autopsy was conducted and the carcass was later buried at the same spot. Soon after the incident, Pichandi is said to have removed the electric fence with the help of the earthmover and absconded. Following a complaint from Gudiyatham tahsildar Vatchala, a case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act and a hunt launched to nab Pichandi and Ashok, said the officer.
The 25-year-old male wild elephant, which strayed into the farmland of Lakshmipathi of Kudimipatti near Paradarami extension reserve forest in Gudiyatham, was electrocuted on Saturday after it came in contact with the electric fence. Incidentally, putting up electric fences is prohibited by law. Lakshmipathi lives in Bengaluru and had recently given his two-acre farmland to C Pichandi, 50, of Kudimipatti on lease, a forest officer said.
Pichandi, who grew paddy on the land, had erected the electric fence around the farmland to prevent wild animals from straying and damaging the crop. On Saturday, the elephant, which strayed into the farmland from the nearby Paradarami extension forest, came in contact with the electrified fence and died. Fearing police action, Pichandi tried to cover up the incident and initially concealed the carcass with tree branches and wood.
In the early hours of Sunday, Pichandi with the help of earthmover owner Ashok and operator Selvaraj buried the elephant carcass on the farmland. On receiving a tip, forest and revenue department officials, however, went to the spot on Monday and exhumed the carcass. Following this, an autopsy was conducted in the presence of veterinarians at Kudimipatti.
District forest officer of Vellore Bargav Teja told TOI, “Following a tip, we went to the spot along with revenue officials and secured Selvaraj. Based on his statement, we informed the revenue and veterinary department to exhume the elephant carcass.”
An autopsy was conducted and the carcass was later buried at the same spot. Soon after the incident, Pichandi is said to have removed the electric fence with the help of the earthmover and absconded. Following a complaint from Gudiyatham tahsildar Vatchala, a case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act and a hunt launched to nab Pichandi and Ashok, said the officer.
Get the app