The patrol team of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve detected the death of 4 elephants in Pataur of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and in Salkhaniya of Khiyatuli range on October 29. Sources said 6 more elephants were found sick or unconscious in nearby areas. Field staff and local veterinarians began treating the sick elephants, with the help of a team of veterinarians from the School of Wildlife and Forensic Health (SWFH).
Retired Director of SWFH, Dr. AB Srivastava’s services were also taken. Opinion of veterinarians and professors of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, was also taken. However, on 10/30/24, 4 sick elephants died. Furthermore, despite continued medication and treatment, 2 sick and unconscious elephants lost their lives on 31.10.24.
Of the 10 dead elephants, one was male and nine were female.
Of the 10 dead elephants, one was male and nine were female. Additionally, of the ten dead elephants, 6 were juveniles/subadults and 4 were adults. Information revealed that a herd of 13 elephants had eaten the Kodo millet crop around the forest. A team of veterinarians has performed an autopsy on 10 elephants. After the autopsy, the viscera were sent to Bareilly and FSL Sagar for investigation.
However, blood samples and other samples taken during the treatment of sick elephants were sent to the SWFH on October 30. Prima facie the presence of toxic substances has been detected in the samples sent. The state of Madhya Pradesh has constituted a five-member state committee to investigate the matter and submit a report to the government. The five-member committee is headed by APCCF (Wildlife).
The committee includes civil society, scientists and veterinarians. The matter is also being investigated by the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) chief. The STSF has searched nearby forests and villages and is carrying out a thorough investigation into the incident. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a team to investigate the matter. The team is carrying out an independent investigation into the matter.
Chief Forest Conservator and Chief Wildlife Conservator camped in Bandhavgarh
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh are camping in Bandhavgarh and are monitoring the investigation and action being taken in the case. On the other hand, Additional Director General of Forests (Tiger and Elephant Project) and Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, along with AIG NTCA, Nagpur visited the site and discussed with the state officials various related issues and possible reasons of the death of elephants.
According to preliminary information shared by the concerned officials of the state of Madhya Pradesh, the death of the elephants could be due to poisoning. The true cause of death will only be known after the investigation report is published.
