Asian elephant electrocuted in Chattogram

An Asian elephant died after being electrocuted in a trap installed to protect crops in Satkania upazila of Chattogram this morning.

The incident occurred around 8.00am at Moittali Bil of Sonakani union in the upazila.

The member of the flagship species was a male aged 50, forest officials said.

Nur Mohammad, chairman of Sonakanai union parishad, said some people installed electric wire to stave off elephants raiding their crops.

The elephant died after coming in contact with the electric wire. Locals said they found the animal with blood oozing from its trunk.

Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Wildlife and Nature Conservation wing of Chattogram under Forest Department, said they sent a team with a veterinary surgeon to determine the cause of the mammal's death.

"After autopsy we will take action against the perpetrators", he said.

The number of Asian elephant categorised as endangered by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is dwindling due to multiple threats across its ranges.

With the death, the number of elephants that died in last 21 years stands 131.