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Ailing tusker dies in Odisha’s Rairakhol forest division, officials rebut poaching

Ailing tusker dies in Odisha’s Rairakhol forest division, officials rebut poaching

An ailing elephant died in the Gajaburi Khasada forest within Sambalpur district in Odisha. Forest officials dismissed poaching allegations as rumours, stating that the tusker sustained wounds indicating a fight with another elephant. Rairakhol divisional forest officer Elavarasan K and a team of experts launched an inquiry into the death. Elavarasan K stated, “The tusker had several injuries of tusk around its body, including a fresh injury near the head, which suggests infighting with another tusker.” Local residents questioned why rescuers failed to treat the animal sooner, while officials stated that the postmortem examination will clarify the exact cause of death. Records show that at least seven elephants died within the Rairakhol forest division over the past two years.

Sources

The New Indian Express

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