Elephant calf dies of ‘overeating’ in Sherpur, forest officials suspect
An elephant calf died of 'overeating' at Panihata Mayagachhi area under Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur in the early hours today, claimed forest officials in Mymensingh and Sherpur.
The spot is half-kilometre away from the Indian border. On information, forest officials and police rushed to the spot this morning.
While talking to The Daily Star, Mymensingh divisional Forest Officer AKM Ruhul Amin said he was informed about the death of a five-year-old male elephant in Sherpur's Nalitabari upazila this morning.
There was a rumour in the locality that the elephant was killed by unknown people by setting up electric trap around their cropland with the intention of saving their crops from the attack by elephants.
But it is yet to be confirmed whether the elephant was killed using an electric trap as there is no electricity connection in the locality, said the DFO.
The actual cause behind the elephant's death would be known after an autopsy, he added.
Veterinary surgeons of the livestock department from Mymensingh and Nalitabari upazila also rushed to the spot and conducted an autopsy on the elephant carcass this noon, said Md Abdul Karim, range officer of Madhutila in Sherpur.
The officials also said elephants have already destroyed paddy fields on 20-acre of land and some 40 elephants in separate herds are still staying in the locality.
Quoting the veterinary surgeons, the range officer said primarily they suspect that the young elephant might have died of 'overeating' as its stomach was overloaded with matured and half-matured paddy plants.
He also said there is no electricity line within one-kilometre of the spot and they did not find any trace of using generators in the locality.
Bashir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Nalitabari Police Station said after being informed by the locals, they rushed to the spot and found the elephant dead.
Locals also dug a small grave to bury the elephant, informed the OC.
Another male elephant aged about 30 was killed at Balijury area in Sreebordi of Sherpur on November 9, and the death of two elephants reported in Sherpur in last 10 days is a serious concern for the protection of asian elephants, an endangered species, said Hakim Babul, member secretary of Jonouddyogh, a citizen platform in Sherpur.
The herds of elephants coming through the Indian border visit the hilly areas of Sherpur during the harvest time from September to November every year and they become the victims, said Hakim adding, "Some 20 elephants were killed in the last 10 years".
To save this gentle giant for a balanced environment and perfect ecology, the hilly areas must be freed for elephants from occupation, and sanctuaries with supply of abundance of foods and water should be created so that elephants do not enter localities in search of food, Hakim, also a journalist, suggested.
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