Elephant deaths in Odisha caused by bacteria: Central investigation team

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 23

The central investigation team of the Project Elephant division has pinned the death of elephants in the Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary on haemorrhagic septicaemia due to the bacteria Pasteurella multocida.

The Environment Ministry said the team visited Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in Kalahandi South Division of Odisha and investigated the sites of seven elephant deaths in the sanctuary.

Investigation of samples, belonging to six dead elephants and a dead cow in the sanctuary, by Odisha veterinary college, has revealed the cause of death due to Haemorrhagic Septicaemia caused by the bacteria Pasteurella multocida. The samples were sent to IVRI for confirmatory diagnosis.

Meetings were also held with the District Collector and District veterinary team on the measures to be taken to prevent further spread of the disease. Meanwhile, vaccination of cattle inside the sanctuary and in the fringe villages has also been done, according to the Environment Ministry.

Elephant deaths in Odisha’s Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary went up to seven this week after the decomposed body of a calf was found. The dead elephants were either female or calves, according to the reports.