A tusker fell prey to poachers in Karachuli forest under the Buguda forest range in Ganjam district of Odisha. After it fell dead on coming into contact with an electric trap set by them, the poachers escaped with half of one tusk.
On hearing the news on Tuesday morning, a team of forest officials, led by Divisional Forest Officer Ramesh Sethi, rushed to the spot near Jeka village and inspected the carcass.
Speaking over the phone from the spot, Mr. Sethi said the elephant was over 60 years old. It got electrocuted after coming into contact with the electric wire set for killing wild boars. An on-the-spot autopsy was conducted and the carcass buried there.
Such traps are common in Ganjam district. On March 23, 2011, two elephants got electrocuted in the Galeri reserve forest under the North Ghumusar forest division. In October 2008, a female elephant got electrocuted near the Sanamundia hill of Dimiria panchayat under the Khallikote forest range in Ganjam district.
Humans also have fallen prey to such traps. In December 2009, Sanjay Das, a villager, got electrocuted at Benipur under the Purushottampur block.
