PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Ramnagar
At a time when human-wildlife conflict is escalating in Uttarakhand, the wildlife too is bearing the brunt of factors resulting from human activities, apart from natural factors. Recently, the body of an elephant calf drifted to the Kalagarh dam in the Corbett tiger landscape. The carcass is reported to have drifted from the Morghatti area on Tuesday. On spotting the carcass in the water, crocodiles in the water body attempted to scavenge on it though the Forest department personnel prevented this from happening.
As soon as forest personnel on patrol noticed the elephant calf’s body floating in the water, they sprang into action even as two crocodiles were circling the carcass in an attempt to feed on it. The forest staff used ropes to extricate the body of the elephant calf out of the water.
Range officer Rajendra Chakret said that the dead elephant was a male calf, approximately three years old. All body parts were found intact. Upon receiving information, veterinary officer Dr Dushyant Sharma reached the spot and conducted the post-mortem as per procedure. After the post-mortem, the elephant’s body was buried according to established norms, while viscera samples were sent for further examination.
