Rogue elephant shot down after loss of five lives

Dehradun, May 30 : Forest officials in the Rajaji National Park in Dehradun shot down a rogue elephant after it had killed five people and injured two.

The elephant strayed into villages located on the periphery of the park, spreading panic among villagers.

Forest officials along with army personnel surrounded the elephant before killing it.

"We fired two to three shots at the elephant's head. It came near water and fell down," said Baldev Singh, a volunteer who filled the tusker.

Elephants usually fall victim to increased poaching for ivory and their habitats disappear. Many stray out of the forest to block roads and rail tracks or look for food in built-up areas.

Some emerge from the jungle every year to take advantage of the paddy harvest while others have discovered a taste for liquor brewed locally.

ANI