Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: In a tragic case of man-animal conflict, three elephants, including a calf, were electrocuted in the Burmal forest on Sunday night, the Forest Department confirmed. Reports suggest that poachers had laid live electric wire meshes in the forest to trap wild boars. Unfortunately, the elephants came into contact with these wires, leading to their deaths.

The carcasses of the three elephants were discovered on Monday morning in the Naktideul Range of Burmal forest in Sambalpur district. Local villagers, who found the bodies, alerted the Forest Department. Forest personnel immediately arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation.

The elephants, part of a herd that had been roaming the Naktideul range in recent days in search of food, were reportedly electrocuted after falling into the traps set by poachers.

A Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) from the Wildlife headquarters has been assigned to lead the investigation into the incident.

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