A wild tusker was found dead at Puthila under Bilinele village near Kukke Subrahmanya in Dakshina Kannada on Tuesday. It is suspected to have been electrocuted.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Karikalan told The Hindu that the tusker is suspected to have come into contact with live electricity lines while pulling down a “Baine Mara” ( Caryota urens ) nearby, whose leaves are its fodder.
The carcass was found on a government land close to Kukke Subrahmanya-Kaikamba-Gundia Road, he said and added that an injury was noticed on the animal’s left foreleg. The elephant could be aged between 25 and 30, he said.
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Mr. Karikalan said that the overhead power lines were not sagging and they had been drawn at a height, as specified.
He said that he has now asked the department staff to identify whether elephant corridors or places where wild elephants or other wild animals frequent have such electricity lines that could pose a threat to them.
Mangaluru Electricity Supply Company authorities have been alerted. Once such spots are identified, MESCOM will, within a week, be requested to take necessary steps to prevent such incidents, he said.
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