Elephant Maimed by Explosive-Filled Food in Suspected Poaching Attack in Odisha

A female elephant suffered severe injuries after apparently consuming food laced with explosives in the Betnoti forest range, prompting wildlife officials to suspect foul play by poachers over the weekend. The animal sustained deep oral wounds, losing nearly one-third of its tongue to the blast, which also led to a severe infection. Forest teams tranquilized the elephant and relocated it to the Talabandh Range office in the North Division of Similipal Tiger Reserve for intensive veterinary care.

In a separate incident, a 15-year-old tusker was discovered dead in Angul district's Baliapashi area near Manikjodi village, bearing gunshot wounds. The carcass was found in the Pokunda section, where forest range officers launched an immediate investigation into suspected poaching. Both cases highlight escalating threats to Odisha's elephant population amid ongoing human-wildlife conflicts.

Similipal Tiger Reserve field director Prakash Chand Gogineni confirmed the female elephant's critical condition, stating that the explosion caused extensive damage to its mouth and jaw. "A thorough investigation is underway, and stringent action will be taken against those found responsible," he emphasized, as veterinary teams monitor the animal's response to treatment.

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These incidents add to Odisha's troubling record of elephant mortality, with recent data indicating unnatural deaths from poaching, electrocution, and train accidents. Explosive baits, often used illegally to deter crop-raiding animals or target wildlife, have emerged as a cruel method causing agonizing injuries or fatalities.

Forest authorities have intensified patrols in affected areas while urging local communities to report suspicious activities. The use of explosives in food is believed to stem from retaliatory actions by villagers frustrated with crop damage, though officials classify it as a poaching tactic in protected zones.

As treatment continues for the injured female elephant, conservationists call for stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws and community awareness programs to mitigate conflicts. The twin incidents underscore the urgent need to address habitat encroachment and illegal practices threatening Odisha's iconic elephant herds.

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