- Finally the mystery of elephants’ death is solved; Cyclopiazonic acid found in viscera
Administrative Correspondent, Bhopal
The mystery of the death of 10 elephants in the state’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has finally been solved after a week. Ultimately, what was expected happened, the elephants died after eating poison mixed in the kodo crop. The elephants not only ate poisonous kodo, but also consumed other crops including poor quality kodo, which became the reason for their untimely death.
On October 29, there was an incident of elephants being found dead in Khitauli and Pataur range in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Umaria district. In this regard, the viscera of the dead elephants were sent to the Science Laboratory. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife L. Krishnamurthy said that on November 5, the toxicity report of the viscera samples of the dead elephants was received from the Central Government’s IVRI Bareilly Uttar Pradesh. According to the report, cyclopiazonic acid has been found in the viscera of the dead elephants. According to the report, it is also revealed that the elephants have eaten large amounts of spoiled kodo plants and grains. The actual calculation of the toxicity of cyclopiazonic acid found in the samples is being done further.
According to the IVRi report, the samples have been found negative for the presence of nitrate-nitrite, heavy metals as well as organo-phosphate organo-chlorine, pyrethroid and carbamate group of pesticides. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Krishnamurthy said that IVRi has also issued an advisory in its report to take care of the surrounding areas, in which points like awareness among the villagers, not grazing cattle in the spoiled crop have been given, which will be followed by the management.
Anupam Sahay will be new field director
The state government has posted Indian Forest Service officer Dr. Anupam Sahay, Forest Conservator Shivpuri Forest Circle, as Forest Conservator and Field Director Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Umaria.
