Poachers’ celebrate New Year in Corbett, 2 elephants killed

According to officials of the Uttaranchal government, an elephant was found dead in Bijrani range of the Park on December 27. The trunk and the tusk of the dead elephant were missing. In the second incident, a rogue elephant was found dead in Jirna range in Kalluwala Nagal forest near Bijnore.

Park officials suspect that the elephants could have been poisoned as no external injuries were found on their bodies.

On Sunday, locals including animal lovers and taxi drivers staged a protest demonstration and closed the gates of the park leading to Bijrani range at Aamdanda. A large number of tourists were stranded. The dharna was lifted after Park director P.C. Joshi persuaded the protestors to open the gates.

Nandan Singh Negi, coordinator of the Save Corbett Campaign blamed the park authorities for the death of the animals. In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, he has demanded stern action against the officials who areallegedly in league with the poachers.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Rajaji National Park, elephants killed one and injured another person in two separate incidents on December 31 in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Parvin Singh, an ex-serviceman, was killed by elephants when he was returning to his village from Ranipokhri market in Rishikesh block. Another woman — Brahmwati of Jawalapur village — who had gone to the forest to collect wood was attacked by an elephant. She has been admitted to the district hospital in Haridwar.