A wild elephant was found dead in Kherjan Haldibari village, Digboi, early this morning, sparking concern among the local community. This tragic event follows a similar elephant death in the neighboring village of Bhimpathar about a month ago.
The residents are seeking answers from various authorities, including the Digboi Forest Division, poachers, and the APDCL Electricity Department, to understand the reasons behind these occurrences.
Forest officials currently suspect illness as the cause of the latest death but are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm. An investigation has been launched by the forest department to determine the exact cause. Divisional Forest Officer T C Ranjith Ram assured that the autopsy would provide definitive answers.
Debojit Moran, General Secretary of Green Bud Society, an environmental NGO based in Digboi, suggested that deforestation and the closure of elephant corridors in the Golai and Bogapani areas might be contributing factors. He has called on the National Green Tribunal to look into why these crucial elephant pathways have been shut down.
This series of unfortunate incidents has prompted the local community and environmentalists to demand swift action and a transparent investigation to prevent future tragedies.
