Injured Tusker on the run in Satkoshia sanctuary

Angul, Dec 16 (UNI) A tusker is on the run in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary, after sustaining a bullet injury in his head.

Local villagers said the tusker was seen on Saturday last at Kadalikhola area under Majhipara reserve forest of Satkosia region.

The tusker had been hit on his head and blood stains were found on the path of the running elephant. Locals suspect the poachers were chasing the injured tusker.

Angul Territorial Range Divisional Forest Officer S K Mishra in-charge of Satkosia said they found no trace of any injured elephant in the area during a search operation since Saturday night.

But local villagers were of the opinion that it is very difficult to detect the tusker in such a vast and dense jungle. Three years back, an injured tusker was seen roaming by villagers in Satkosia jungle.

The forest official however, could not trace it but later its body was found in the jungle.

According to the last census, the Satkoshia sanctuary homes 194 elephants. A massive search is now necessary to trace out the bullet ridden tusker, local villagers said.

UNI