Elephant Electrocuted, Man Detained for Installing Illegal Electric Fence

ALIPURDUAR: In yet another case of human-wildlife conflict, an elephant was deliberately electrocuted in the dead of night at Bijaypur village near Achhapara Tea Garden in Kalchini block, adjacent to the Buxa Tiger Reserve. The adult female elephant collapsed and died instantly after coming in contact with a high-voltage electric fence.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

Forest officials, after an initial examination, confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. On Tuesday morning, the Forest department detained a man identified as Kalu Sonar on suspicion of installing the illegal fence around his betel nut plantation. Investigators suspect that when the elephant attempted to push through the barbed-wire fence, its trunk got entangled in the live wires, leading to its immediate death.