BARIPADA: The decomposed carcass of an elephant was found in Similipal Reserve Forest in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday. Barely a week back a tusker was found dead in Teltangia forest under Bijatala range area of the district.
Sources said, the carcass, with its head removed, was spotted by patrolling staff in Budhirana Reserve Forest under Bahalda range. As the spot is closer to neighbouring Jharkhand, involvement of inter-state gang cannot be ruled out.
Forest officials suspect the animal might have been poisoned by a well-organised poaching racket. It was not a natural death as its head was removed, they added.
On Wednesday, a team of officials led by Divisional Forest Officer Arun Kumar Swain and veterinary surgeon conducted an autopsy before burying the body there.
Swain said, “As its death possibly occurred about 15 days ago, it is difficult to identify the gender. Cause of death can be ascertained once the autopsy is received”.
Sources said a herd of elephants from Jharkhand had strayed into the reserve forest in search of food.
The elephant is suspected to have been a part of the group which had left the forest and returned to their original habitat.
On November 21, a tusker was spotted by the forest personnel inside Teltangia forest under Bijatala range area, nearly 23 km from Rairangpur forest division on November 21.
This elephant was suspected to have been poisoned by a poaching racket.
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