Environmentalists tracking the investigation into the death of a wild elephant in Chikkamagaluru have expressed outrage over the inaccuracies in the preliminary inquiry conducted by the Bhadra Tiger Reserve authorities.
In mid-September, the skeleton of a wild elephant was discovered near Aldara-Byrapura, in the backwaters of Bhadra, within the Lakkavalli range of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Local fisherfolk informed officials, who noted that the elephant’s tusks were missing.
A post-mortem examination was conducted by the department’s veterinary doctor, witnessed by the range forest officer and an NGO. Initially, the report listed the body parts without tusks, raising suspicions. Some activists alleged that department staff stole the tusks, while others claimed that hunters were active in the area.
After a complaint was filed with Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre, the staff sent the body parts to Hyderabad and Chennai for advanced study. However, the report exposed loopholes in the department’s investigation, revealing that the elephant was male and suspected to have been shot.
Field Director of Bhadra Tiger Reserve Yashpal Kshirsagar confirmed that the elephant was male and stated that an investigation had been launched, with a few individuals apprehended.
Social activist and whistleblower Dinesh Kallahalli has criticized the anti-environmental stance of Bhadra reserve officials, alleging discrepancies in the investigation. He plans to question these discrepancies in court.
The forest department’s veterinary officers initially concluded that the elephant was a female that died of natural causes. However, a DNA report from Chennai confirmed that the elephant was actually male. The forest department then filed a complaint under the Wildlife Protection Act in the Narasimharajapura court.
Additional DNA testing at the Hyderabad CCMB lab confirmed that the elephant was male. These reports suggest that forest officials attempted to cover up the elephant’s death. Kallahalli alleges that lower-level officials took advantage of the absence of senior officials to conceal the truth.
Forest watchers, guards, and NGO members who participated in the post-mortem examination have information about the elephant’s killing and the theft of its tusks. However, they have not provided information about the missing tusks.
The deceased elephant’s head was sent to the FSL forensic lab, which reported that the elephant might have been shot in the forehead. Despite these findings, no proper investigation has been conducted.
Kallahalli demands that senior forest officials or independent officials investigate the matter, rather than the guilty officials themselves.
Chirag from Rainland Trust expressed disappointment with the department’s inquiry. Despite Forest Minister Khandre ordering a probe, the results have been inconclusive. Chirag stated that the department’s inquiry, conducted by the same officers or lower-level officials, has not helped mitigate the problems.
