The Pioneer had on Thursday reported about the alarming incidents of jumbo carcasses being found at the reserve. Two carcasses of elephants were found burnt and two others were found buried with dismantled bones. At least 12 pachyderms have been killed here in the last two months.
The team set up by the NTCA comprises Biswajit Mohanty, Secretary, Wildlife Society of Odisha and Belinda Wright, former member, National Board of Wild Life (NBWL) and a wildlife expert.
The team would submit its report within a fortnight. It would appraise and assess the existing situation in the reserve that led to the poaching and killing of so many elephants in the park. It would also examine the ongoing protection initiatives, while suggesting immediate measures for strengthening the same.
Mohanty had alleged that there has been mass poaching of elephants in the core area of the reserve and claimed that more than 12 pachyderms have been killed in the last couple of months alone. He had also written to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh demanding a CBI investigation into the incident. Read the full report here.
Source: Moushumi Basu, The Pioneer, New Delhi
