MP: 8 elephants die, another critically unwell in MP tiger reserve, poisoning suspected
Eight elephants have died and another is critically unwell after suspected poisoning in Madhya Pradesh’s Pench Tiger Reserve, officials said on Monday. The carcasses of the elephants, believed to be from the same herd, were found on Sunday in the buffer zone of the reserve in the Seoni district, the officials said. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the elephants in the region.
“On Sunday, a few villagers spotted a herd of elephants and noticed one of the elephants showing unusual behavior,” said an official of the forest department. “Upon investigation, it was found that eight elephants had died in the forest. The deceased included two female elephants and six males. All the deceased elephants were from the same herd, which consists of more than 20 animals.”
The forest department suspects that the elephants were poisoned by villagers who often retaliate by poisoning or electrocuting the animals when they raid their fields. “We are examining the matter from all possible angles,” said the official. “The possibility of poisoning cannot be ruled out. Our teams have recovered some suspected poisonous substance from the location.” The carcasses have been sent for post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.
The deaths have sparked outrage among wildlife activists and local residents. The villagers said they are scared to go into their fields as they fear retaliation by wild animals. “Elephants stray into villages frequently and attack people,” said a local farmer. “The government should protect us from them.” He added, “I am really worried about the elephant attacks as the forest is expanding to our villages. I had lost everything that I owned and now my livelihood is in jeopardy.”
The incident is not the first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh. In recent years, several incidents of elephants being poisoned and killed have been reported in the state. Officials say the incidents often happen because villagers use harmful methods to deter the animals from damaging their crops.
This incident highlights the conflict between humans and wildlife. With the increasing human population encroaching upon forest areas, conflicts are inevitable. The forest department says it will take action to prevent future incidents, but the issue requires a holistic approach and sustained effort. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of elephants in Madhya Pradesh. This issue is now under investigation, and authorities are working to find solutions to this growing problem of human-animal conflict.
