Male jumbo dies of electrocution in Odisha

A male elephant died of electrocution after coming in contact with a live electric wire near a forest in Dhenkanal district, officials said.

The jumbo, aged around 35 years, was found dead on Wednesday near Dudurkote forest under the jurisdiction of Hindol forest range in the district, the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Jitendranath Das, said.

The elephant's carcass was spotted by local residents and they informed forest officials, Das said adding the elephant came in contact with a live electric wire, suspected to have been laid by some miscreants, to kill wild boars.

An investigation has been initiated and post-mortem examination was being conducted on the carcass of the elephant, Das said.

Efforts are on to identify the miscreants who had laid the electric wire in the area, police said.

Earlier in October 2018, seven wild elephants died of electrocution after coming in contact with a sagging power line near Kamalanga village in the same district.