Centre begins probe into death of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has constituted a team to probe the death of 10 elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.

The team is conducting an independent inquiry into the matter.

Further, the MP Government has also constituted a five-member state-level committee, to investigate the matter and submit a report to the government. The matter is also being inquired into by the head of State Tiger Strike Force (STSF). The STSF has combed the forests and the adjoining villages and is conducting an in-depth probe into the incident.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh, VKN Ambade, is camping in the reserve and supervising the inquiry.

Senior officials from National Tiger Conservation Authority have visited the sites and held discussions with state officials on various related issues and probable cause of the deaths of elephants.

As per the preliminary information shared by the officers concerned from Madhya Pradesh, the death of the elephants may be because of poisoning.

The patrolling staff of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve found four elephants dead on October 29. On further combing of the adjoining areas, six more elephants were found sick or unconscious in the vicinity.

However, four of the six elephants died a day later. Further, even after continuous medication and treatment, two remaining sick and unconscious elephants lost their lives on October 31. Of the 10 dead elephants, one was male and nine were female. Further, among the dead elephants, six were juvenile and four were adults.