Final rites of wild elephant performed as per Hindu tradition

By Abinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, Aug. 18:The final rites of a deceased wild elephant were performed according to Hindu tradition in the buffer zone area of Kanchanpur on Thursday.

The Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) conducted the final rites of the wild elephant. In Hindu religion, elephants are revered as a symbol of Lord Ganesh and worshipped accordingly. So, based on these beliefs, the elephant's last rites were performed as per the religion, the park informed.

The elephant died on Thursday night, having fallen into the septic tank within the community forest premises of Shuklaphanta Municipality-7.

The deceased elephant was estimated between 35 to 40 years old, according to Kishor Mehata, Chief Conservation Officer of the park. The elephant, which had separated from its herd, had fallen into the septic tank at around 12 noon.

“There were security guards until 11 am and the elephant was not there until that time," Mehta said. It seems that the elephant came from the western side and reached the septic tank, he added.

The elephant was cremated at the same location where it had passed away. Two bulldozers were used to dig a pit. The elephant’s last rites were performed as per the Hindu religion. After the worship, it was wrapped in a white cloth and cremated," Mehata informed. The exact number of wild elephants in the SNP is not known. But herds of around 24 to 25 elephants are seen within the park every year as there is an ongoing movement of elephants between Nepal and India. Three wild elephants have died in recent years in Kanchanpur alone.