Baby Elephant Electrocuted in Odisha’s Odapada Block | Wildlife-Human Conflict
Odapada, Odisha: A tragic incident unfolded in Mahadia village under Gadashila section of Odapada block when a baby elephant lost its life after coming into contact with an electric fence.
According to reports, the calf was part of a herd that had ventured out of the Matharagadi forest in search of food.
While attempting to cross farmland, the young elephant was fatally electrocuted by solar-powered fencing installed by farmers to protect their crops.
Forest officials suspect that either a high-voltage connection or faulty wiring may have caused the fatal shock. The exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem report.
Witnesses described a heart-wrenching scene as the mother elephant tried to revive her calf, nudging and pushing the body before carrying it towards a nearby mango orchard in the forest.
Officials from the Forest Department monitored the mother’s movements closely to ensure safety and to study the herd’s behaviour.
This incident underscores the growing conflict between human agricultural practices and wildlife movement in Odisha, raising urgent questions about coexistence and the need for safer crop protection measures.
