Another elephant killed in Odisha

Suspected poachers have gunned down a tusked and severed his head besides taking away both his tusks in Sambalpur district, Forest officials said today.

"The forest officials found the mutilated body of a male tusker of about 30 to 35 year old. Besides bullet injury, the animals head was cut and both of its teeth were missing," said Bamara Divisional Forest officer (DFO) L K Patra.

Patra said the forest officials found the body of the male elephant in Koodarha forest range near Patabandha village.The body was laying near the water body, he said adding that the animal could have been killed three days ago.
 

Earlier, the poachers had also killed another male elephant in the Jamankira forest range on January 20. "The poachers have killed at least three elephants within eight days," an official said.

An autopsy was conducted on the elephant's body before being buried.