Four elephants in Bandhavgarh Reserve dead, five critically ill
- According to wildlife department officials, during routine patrol on Tuesday afternoon, “staff at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve discovered two wild elephant dead in Reserved Forest (RF) 384 and two more in Protected Forest (PF) 183 A, located in the Salakhaniya Beat of Khitauli and Pataur core ranges.
Highlights:
- Four elephants were found dead and five others critically unwell at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Tuesday, prompting an investigation into the cause of their condition. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Vijay N Ambade, stated that the cause of death remains undetermined and will be established following post-mortem examinations.
Details of the Incident
- The wildlife department's patrol team discovered two dead elephants in Reserved Forest (RF) 384 and two more in Protected Forest (PF) 183 A, located in the Salakhaniya Beat of the Khitauli and Pataur core ranges.
- Five additional elephants were later found in a critically unwell state nearby, bringing the herd’s total to 13 members, with four deceased, five unwell, and four appearing healthy.
Investigation and Response
- Multiple investigation teams have been formed to explore all angles regarding the elephants' deaths.
- A comprehensive operation is in progress, with wildlife health officers and veterinarians from Bandhavgarh and the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health in Jabalpur working urgently to treat the ailing elephants.
- The Specialised Tiger Strike Force (STSF) teams from Jabalpur and Bhopal are also on-site to assist in the investigation.
Possible Causes
- Local sources suspect that the elephants may have ingested harmful crops, which could have contributed to their critical condition. Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun are consulting with park managers to focus on stabilizing the health of the unwell elephants.
Background
- The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh, has seen a population of elephants migrate from Chhattisgarh since 2018, with the first herd of around 15-20 elephants being spotted that year. They are now established residents within the core and buffer zones of the reserve.
Prelims Takeaways
- Specialised Tiger Strike Force (STSF) teams
- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve