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Almost an entire herd of elephants has died in India – and no one knows why

Almost an entire herd of elephants has died in India – and no one knows why

Ten elephants from a herd of 13 died within three days of the year tiger reserve in the center Indialeaving authorities puzzled as to the cause.

Fangs in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve IN Madhya Pradesh the state started dying on Tuesday.

A park ranger spotted several clearly distressing elephants about 2km from their usual camp and alerted his superiors, who immediately dispatched veterinary teams.

Veterinarians discovered the death of four elephants. They provided medical attention to the rest of the herd, but four more died on Wednesday evening and another couple died on Thursday.

Authorities said they were waiting for autopsy reports to determine the cause of the mass deaths.

The three surviving herd members were under surveillance, NDTV reported.

Teams from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Chief Conservator of Forests landed in Bandhavgarh to conduct an independent investigation. They were expected to submit an interim report within the next 10 days.

The investigation will seek to determine whether the mass death was accidental or intentional.

“An investigation is underway to determine whether this was a case of poisoning,” an unnamed official said Indian express. “There are some signs, but we can only be sure after receiving the autopsy report.”

PK Verma, deputy director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, highlighted a local crop, a grain called Kodo, which could pose a threat to elephants under certain conditions.

“We are investigating various leads, there is a possibility that Kodo, which may be toxic to elephants, contributed to this,” he explained.

In the wake of the deaths, park authorities have as a precautionary measure destroyed Kodo crops in the area, plowing up and burning standing crops.

Mahouts bathe elephants on the eve of a procession marking the last day of Dussehra festivities in Mysuru, India, October 11, 2024. (AP)Mahouts bathe elephants on the eve of a procession marking the last day of Dussehra festivities in Mysuru, India, October 11, 2024. (AP)

Mahouts bathe elephants on the eve of a procession marking the last day of Dussehra festivities in Mysuru, India, October 11, 2024. (AP)

A separate investigation was conducted by a team of veterinarians.

“Now a large team of doctors is dealing with the matter. We treat them mainly because of a toxic infection. The drugs are registered intravenously. Several villagers were questioned about the use of pesticides on kodo millet crops. Residents claim that this act was not intentional. Investigation is ongoing,” a wildlife official said Express.

“Experts told us that there have been cases of elephants dying in the past as a result of eating kodo millet, and there have also been cases of successful treatment.”

Investigation teams of more than 100 forest officials accompanied by a dog unit checked nearby water sources, examined herd movement patterns and assessed crop yields within a 5 km radius of where the tusks were found. They also collected soil samples and plant exhibits from the immediate area.

However, the investigation was hampered by the presence of a larger and more aggressive herd of elephants and three tigers in the area.

In recent years, Bandhavgarh’s elephant population has flourished, even attracting migrating tusks from the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. Known for its ideal habitat, the reserve’s reputation as an elephant sanctuary has now been overshadowed by tragedy, raising concerns about wildlife management and conservation protocols in the area.