Elephant found dead in Jhapa

By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel,Damak, June 28: An elephant was found dead in Mechinagar, Jhapa, on Thursday morning. The Elephant Information Centre in Bahundangi reported that the elephant was discovered near Dhadare ground on the west side of the Ninda Khola in Ward No. 3.

Locals said that a male elephant was found dead in the morning without any visible injuries on the body. Some locals offered flowers, considering it a manifestation of the deity Ganesh. Although electric traps are used in the border area, the exact cause of death is unknown, said Jeevan Pathak, an officer from the Division Forest Office in Jhapa.

Pathak said that there was no sign to show the elephant died from an electric trap, as animals die on the spot when electrocuted. He suggested that food poisoning might be a possible cause. 

The age and cause of death would be known only after obtaining the post-mortem report, he added. 

So far, 20 elephants have died in various municipalities of the district for different reasons. Most elephants are reported to have died from electrocution. 

According to Shankar Luitel, an active campaigner for reducing human-elephant conflict, the killing of elephants continues due to a lack of serious attention from concerned authorities regarding the cause of death and identification of those involved.

For the past few days, 30 to 40 elephants have been moving around the area. Arjun Karki, who is active in reducing human-elephant conflict and the Ward Chairman of Mechinagar Municipality-4, said that the Indian elephants frequently come to Nepal from the forest across the border. 

Two months ago, an elephant was found dead with its tusks removed in the Kalika Community Forest of Mechinagar Municipality-12. It is reported that poachers killed the elephant for its tusks. 

After conservationists protested the premature burial of the elephant without thorough investigation, the elephant was later exhumed for necessary investigation.