Three elephants found dead in Orissa Sanctuary

Baripada: The carcasses of three
elephants, one with its tusk missing, have been found in the
Similipal Sanctuary in Odisha`s Mayurbhanj district with
poachers suspected of poisoning them.

The three elephants, a male with its tusk missing, a
female and a calf were found dead yesterday near Kantikana in
the Karanjia forest division, Range Officer of Karanjia,
Suryamani Barik said.

The missing tusk of the male elephant raised suspicion
that the three pachyderms were poisoned by poachers and ivory
smugglers, forest officials said.

A team of wildlife officials including a forensic
expert was sent to gather evidence.
There were a series of elephant deaths at the
Similipal Reserve last year.

PTI