Guwahati, July 28, 2024 — The sudden death of a wild elephant in the Bhim Pather area under the Digboi Forest Range Office has raised significant concern among local residents and environmentalists. The elephant, which had been wandering in search of food, was found dead on Sunday afternoon, alarming the community and prompting questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Locals report that the elephant had been in the area for several days prior to its death. “We are unaware of the reason for the elephant’s death. Whenever elephants are spotted in the area, we inform the forest officials and staff, but they usually arrive late and merely assess the situation as part of their duty,” said a resident of Bhim Pather.
Residents expressed frustration with the authorities, particularly the Margherita Sub-Divisional Administration and the Digboi Municipal Board, for their failure to install street lights in areas frequently visited by wild elephants. The lack of lighting has made it difficult to safely navigate these areas, as elephants often enter residential zones in search of food, posing a threat to life and property.
Debojit Moran, an environmentalist and general secretary of the Green Bud Society (NGO) Assam, highlighted the broader issues affecting the elephant population. He pointed to the closure of the Golai and Bogapani Elephant Corridors, the largest in Asia, which has disrupted the natural movement of elephants and forced them into human-populated areas. “The sudden death of the wild elephant in Bhim Pather raises several questions. It could be due to electrocution or food poisoning. We appeal to T. C. Ranjith Ram, Divisional Forest Officer of Digboi, to conduct a proper inquiry into the incident,” Moran stated.
Moran also noted a similar incident just days prior, where another wild elephant was found dead in Seema Pather village under the Margherita West Range Forest Office. These repeated incidents have heightened concerns among environmentalists and residents alike.
The community and environmental activists are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the elephant’s death and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. They stress the importance of addressing the underlying issues, such as habitat disruption and inadequate infrastructure, to protect both the local population and the wildlife.
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