Symbolic pictures.
Are whole grains a means of keeping humans healthy? It can cause death of animals. The answer to this question is not that easy, but 10 elephants died in three days in Madhya Pradesh and the cause of death was believed to be the kodo crop. Many serious problems arise. In the initial investigation report, the cause of the elephant’s death was blamed on the kodo, but local farmers did not have the slightest confidence in this. Panic spread from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi after the death of the elephant. The government has also suspended two employees of two forest departments.
They are part of a group of 13 elephants in the Bandagarh National Park in Umaria district, which feed on kodo crops. Even in initial investigative reports, kodo crops were cited as the cause of elephant deaths. According to reports, toxic substances contained in kodo crops have become the cause of elephant deaths.
- First, on October 29, 4 elephants were found dead and 6 were in serious condition.
- The next day, October 30, four more elephants died.
- Thereafter, also on October 31, the two remaining sick elephants died.
People have questions about kodo crops. In this case, entire crops in the area were destroyed by tractors so that elephants or animals would not eat them and die. However, according to local farmers, the kodo crop cannot be the cause of the elephants’ deaths as it is perfectly safe for their cattle to eat the same feed that is destroyed by the forest department.
How do farmers feel about the death of elephants?
Some farmers here tell different stories about the deaths of elephants. Manohar, a local farmer, said the snake would be affected if it comes into contact with crops or becomes entangled in them. If a bull crosses them and passes by, the bull dies. This is what happened in our area.
What is the truth? This can only be known through investigation, but this is the first case not just in Madhya Pradesh but in the country where 10 elephants have died under such suspicious circumstances. Bandhavgarh National Park is located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and covers an area of ​​approximately 15,000 square kilometers. It is world-famous for its large number of tigers.
In 2018-19, a herd of about 40 wild elephants arrived here via Odisha and Chhattisgarh. According to forest department officials, there are currently about 150 elephants in Madhya Pradesh, of which about 70 live in Bandhavgarh National Park, but the number has dropped to 60 due to the death of 10 elephants.
Elephant crushed three people to death on Saturday
Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh is also known for human-wildlife conflicts. A wild elephant crushed three people, two of them fatally, on Saturday. The question now is whether the elephant deaths are the result of human-animal conflict or whether there are other causes. Our suggestions to avoid elephant-man conflict were not taken seriously by the state government.
Currently, both the state and central governments have set up investigation teams to find out the truth and samples of the kodo crop taken from the elephant’s stomach are being tested in the laboratory after post-mortem. Obviously, this incident is regrettable, but sadly, politics plays a role as always in this issue.
Following the incident, the government on Sunday suspended the field director and ACF chief for negligence towards the elephants that had arrived. The CM said that the death of elephants in the forest areas of Umaria district was saddening and a team of State Minister for Forests and senior officials had gone to the area where the incident occurred and a preliminary report had been made. The elephant’s necropsy report is yet to be released.
