Elephant electrocuted in north Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 31 - A tusker was electrocuted after it came in contact with a high-tension electric wire in Pathorjhora Tea Estate in north Bengal.

The incident occurred Tuesday when the pachyderm came in contact with a high-tension wire from a damaged electric pole in Pathorjhora Tea Estate in Malbazar.

The elephant was discovered with injury marks in its legs and severed tusk. This is the second such incident in the past one week.

On Oct 24, a female elephant was electrocuted when it tried to pull down a high-tension electric wire in Jaldhaka forest range, about 500 km from here.

'It is a very unfortunate incident. We could have taken appropriate steps, if we were aware of the damaged pole,' said assistant engineer Kalyan Dasgupta of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (WBSEDCL).

Chief conservator of forest (north Bengal) Shilwant Patel has visited the spot for further inquiry.

'We will discuss the matter with WBSEDCL officials to prevent such incidents in the future. The department is also making an inquiry to find out how the tusk was severed,' said Patel.

Local sources said Monday night an elephant herd from nearby Bhuttabari forest range had come to forage near the accident site.

'We have been constantly trying to prevent elephant deaths in accidents in north Bengal. Five cells have been set up in four vulnerable areas - Kurseong, Boikunthapur, Jaldapara and Buxa Tiger Reserve, to prevent electrocution,' Animesh Bose, a member of the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation told IANS.

He said the electric pole, which caused death of the tusker Tuesday, was lying on the ground for the past one and a half months.

'We have asked the administration to call a meeting between police, village panchayat leaders and wildlife organisations to discuss the issue,' Bose said.

About 27 elephants have died in north Bengal in various accidents this year, he added.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

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