Tiger deaths prompted a major administrative shake-up…
On Wednesday, 30 October 2024, seven elephants died in MP's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Three others are under medical treatment, wildlife officials said.
The cause of death is still not known.
A post-mortem is being conducted at Jabalpur's School of Wildlife Forensics and Health, with veterinarians from the state's Pench and Kanha forests assisting.
Farmers sprayed pesticides on crops and that could have caused the deaths.
The health of the 11th and 12th members of the herd are normal at this time.
The Assistant Inspector-General for the National Tiger Conservation Authority's Central Zone, Nandakishore Kale, is present and investing on the spot.
And, amid concerns of elephant poaching, the Delhi-based Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has set up a committee to investigate the deaths.
A state-level inquiry is also going on.
The crisis erupted Tuesday after two elephants were found dead during regular patrolling of the reserve area. Five more giants were found in an unwell condition.
The Bandhavgarh reserve came into light after a spate of tiger deaths prompted a major administrative shake-up.
A special report pointed red flags in the department's handling of tiger deaths, including procedural lapses and negligence by officials.
Edited By: Tanvi Walia
The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now.