Elephant dies from electric trap set to protect crops, farmer arrested

In a tragic incident in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur, a farmer has been arrested following the death of a wild elephant who suffered an electric shock, officials confirmed to ANI. Forest Department Ranger Nikhil Saxena reported that the elephant was part of a nine-elephant herd wandering near Murka village. One elephant became separated and encountered an electrified wire, which was set up by the farmer to protect his paddy crop, resulting in the animal’s death.

The forest department seized bamboo poles and GI wires from the site and has filed an FIR against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Saxena talked about the need for peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife, especially as incidents of conflict escalate in these forest-adjacent villages.

"A group of nine elephants from the Balrampur's Wadrafnagar forest area diverted to the Manikpur forest circle while roaming around. Of nine, six elephants were in the forest area adjoining Murka village last night, and one elephant got separated from the herd. The elephant died after getting trapped in the live wire installed by the accused," he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, an elephant calf was found injured in the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, with officials suspecting it had triggered an improvised bomb, known as a potash bomb. Forest Deputy Director Varun Jain noted that traces of blood and bomb remnants were discovered over a 6-7 kilometre area. The injured calf, estimated to be five to six years old, was identified by drone and is receiving medical attention.

"We received information about the scattered blood in the Udanti-Sitandi Tiger Reserve, which is also a zone of elephant roaming. Upon receiving the information, the Anti-Poaching team traced the footsteps in a 6-7 km area and after that, we got to know that an elephant was injured. After that our team through drone cameras found an elephant calf (5-6 years old) that has injuries on its legs and mouth. So, possibly, it is the same injured elephant. At the same time, we have found a part of 'potash bomb' near the premises, which indicates that the calf was possibly injured after eating and walking on that bomb," Jain told ANI.

(With ANI inputs)