Carcass of elephant found in Darjeeling

Kolkata, Aug 1 (UNI) The carcass of an elephant was found in the Gorubathan area in Darjeeling district this morning.

The female adult pachyderm was suspected to have been electrocuted by an electric fence the local villagers had put up to keep away elephants, Chief Conservator of Wild Life Ujjal Bhattacharjee said.

The incident came a week after a two-year-old calf elephant was run over and killed by a train at Sukna in Darjeeling district.

Last year four elephants had died of electrocution in the area as they came in contact with such temporary fences erected by the local people by hooking overhead electric transmission lines to save their crops from being damaged.

Mr Bhattacharjee said a committee had been set up comprising forest and state electricity board officials to track down such fences, put up by violating the electricity and wildlife acts.

UNI