Bandhavgarh elephant death: Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav’s high-level team doesn’t get ‘conspiracy’ theory

Police and other officials at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve after the death of elephants, Umaria district. | Photo Credit: PTI

“The high-level team sent by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) following the death of 10 elephants has not come across any ‘conspiracy’ theory,” said one of its members.

The delegation comprising Pradeep Ahirwar, Minister of Forests of Madhya Pradesh; Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Baranwal and Forest Force chief Aseem Shrivastava on Saturday (November 2, 2024) visited the site inside the zoo where the elephants died.

Four wild elephants were found dead in Sanga and Bakeli under BTR Khitoli on October 29. Another four pachyderms died on October 30 and two the next day.

According to wildlife expert Ajay Dubey, ten elephants have never died in a 72-hour period in the country. “The autopsy showed poison and a lot of kodo sorghum in their stomachs,” according to officials.

The Ministry of Environment revealed that the Wildlife Control Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has commissioned a team to investigate the death of the elephants. The Madhya Pradesh government has also set up a committee to look into the incident.

Four elephants were found dead, five injured in MP’s Bandhavgarh tiger reserve

The official on Saturday (November 3, 2024) said that the CM rushed Mr. Ahirwar and two senior officials at the reserve and asked them to submit a report on the elephant deaths that had made national headlines.

“The CM was not satisfied with the initial report of the Forest Department that the pachyderms had died after eating kodo millet,” said an official, who attended an emergency meeting called by Mr. Yadav on Friday night (November 1, 2024), tell us. The PTI.

Quoting the CM in the meeting, this official said Mr. Yadav said he had never heard of elephants dying after eating kodo millet. “The CM was unhappy with the failure to scientifically ascertain the cause of death even after three days,” he said.

Talking to The PTI in a call from BTR in Umaria district, Mr. Asked about what they found during the visit, he said, “We were asked to prepare a report.” We discuss it. The report will come out when it is completed,” he said.

Minister Ahirwar told The PTI“We are here. I am here until Sunday evening (November 3, 2024). A question that affects all aspects is open. The report will come out in three to four days and everything will be clear.” Meanwhile, two people were killed and one injured near BTR on Saturday (November 2, 2024) by three elephants believed to be part of a herd that lost 10 jumbos earlier. Mr. Shrivastava on Saturday said that the elephants have not been caught.