Elephant found buried after being killed by electrocution in Chattogram’s Banshkhali

The Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division of the Forest Department uncovered a disturbing case of wildlife crime yesterday (6 May) after the body of an elephant was recovered from the Bashirabari area under the Napora Wildlife Beat of the Jaldi range of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary.

Officials confirmed that the elephant was killed by electrocuting it and was later buried in the Bashirabari area in Puichhari Union of Banshkhali Upazila in Chattogram.

Acting on a tip-off, forest officials discovered the decomposed body of the female elephant, estimated to be between 5 to 7 years old, buried next to a paddy field. The incident reportedly occurred last Friday (2 May).

Chattogram Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer Dipannita Bhattacharjee told The Business Standard, "Upon visiting the site, staff from the Napora Wildlife Beat collected all relevant evidence. Preliminary findings suggest the elephant was killed by a few local farmers using an electric trap. We have already identified the suspects, who are currently on the run."

"According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Friday. The killers buried the elephant's body after electrocuting it," she added.

"Legal action is being initiated under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012, and a POR (Preliminary Offense Report) case is in process for the illegal killing of the elephant," she said further.

Veterinary doctors from Dulahazara Safari Park and the Banshkhali Upazila Livestock Office conducted a post-mortem examination of the elephant's body after unearthing the decomposed body. "Once the report is available, more details will be known about the elephant," Dipannita said.

Forest officials have assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

This is the second incident of a wild elephant being killed in Banshkhali within a month. The previous case occurred on 9 April at the Chechuria Beat under the Forest Department's Chattogram South jurisdiction. In that incident, a male elephant aged about seven years was killed, and its tusks and nails were smuggled.