Female Elephant and Calf Found Dead in Dhenkanal, Infighting Suspected
Dhenkanal: A female elephant and her six-month-old calf were found dead near Godarbili village under the Kamakhyanagar West Forest Range in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, triggering concern among forest officials and wildlife enthusiasts.
According to preliminary findings, the deaths are suspected to have resulted from infighting within an elephant herd.
Forest department officials said the carcasses were discovered in a forested area after local villagers alerted authorities.
Initial investigations indicate that the elephants may have suffered fatal injuries during a clash among members of a herd that has been moving through the region in recent days.
Residents reported that a herd of approximately 38 elephants had been roaming in and around nearby villages for the past several days, causing damage to crops and property.
The movement of the herd had already raised concerns among villagers and forest personnel.
Following the discovery, forest officials secured the area and initiated a detailed investigation.
A post-mortem examination is expected to determine the exact cause of death and confirm whether the fatalities were indeed the result of herd conflict.
The incident has renewed concerns about elephant management and monitoring in the district, which frequently witnesses the movement of large elephant herds through human settlements.
Wildlife experts have emphasised the need for continued surveillance to reduce risks for both elephants and local communities.
Authorities have assured that all aspects of the incident are being examined and that further details will emerge once the post-mortem report is available.
