Female elephant dies after eating explosive bait in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A female elephant died in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district after eating explosive bait meant for hunting wild boars. This has raised new concerns about illegal hunting practices and wildlife conservation in the area. The incident occurred in a forest near Pipala village in the Jiral Forest Division of Dhenkanal. Locals first spotted the injured elephant and alerted forest officials.

According to sources, explosive bait had been placed in the forest to trap wild boars. It is believed the elephant accidentally ingested the explosive, causing serious internal injuries. Forest department officials later tranquilized the animal and transported it to the Sunajhari Reserve Forest in the Kamakhyanagar Western Range for treatment. Veterinarians attempted to treat the injured elephant, but its condition deteriorated, and it died on Tuesday.

The death has raised concerns among wildlife activists and local residents, who have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. Some have also alleged negligence and a lack of proper medical care during treatment. Activists have urged authorities to identify those who set explosive traps in forest areas and take strict action against them. They have warned that such practices pose a serious threat to wild animals in the state. Forest officials said further investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the elephant’s death.