An adult elephant that got stuck in a wetland at Sunghihula Beel (Borbeel) near Khumtai under Numaligarh Beat of Golaghat Range in Assam, died on July 3.
The forest authorities have appointed Ritu Paban Borah, ACF as inquiry officer to probe into the death of the elephant under Section 50 (8) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972.
According to forest authorities, an adult elephant got separated from the herd and entered the Sunghihula Beel (Borbeel) at about 10.30 am on July 1. Range officer at Golaghat Range, after getting the information, rushed to the spot with personnel of Golaghat Range and Protection Range.
The range officer contacted veterinary doctor of CWRC, Panbari, Kaziranga, who suggested for observing the animal till the evening so that it might come out of the wetland. At about 4 pm, the forest personnel saw that the animal was trying to come out of the wetland. However, after a few attempts, the elephant failed.
Then at around 5.30 pm the forest personnel on a boat came close to the jumbo and found it dead.
On July 3, the carcass of the animal was pulled out of the wetland with the help of crane and the body was sent for post mortem. The carcass of the elephant was buried near the wetland.
The forest authorities said the exact cause of death would be confirmed only after the receipt of the post mortem report. However, the veterinary doctor who conducted the autopsy informed that the animal died due to multiple organ failure.
