ELEPHANT FOUND DEAD UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN EASTERN INDIA
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH
DURATION: 1.11
SOURCE: ANI
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NO ACCESS BBC
Elephant found dead in eastern India.
Elephant found dead under mysterious circumstances in a forested area of India’s eastern West Bengal state.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
SHOWS:
JALPAIGURI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (JANUARY 30, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. A SIGNBOARD OF THE DISTRICT FOREST RANGE
2. LOCALS STANDING IN A FIELD
3. BODY OF DEAD ELEPHANT LYING IN THE FIELD
4. EYES OF THE DEAD ELEPHANT
5. A GARLAND PLACED ON THE BODY OF DEAD ELEPHANT
6. CURIOUS ONLOOKERS STANDING NEAR BODY OF DEAD ELEPHANT
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUBHASH CHANDRA GHOSH, FOREST RANGER, MORAGHAT RANGE, JALPAIGURI, SAYING:We have not been able to ascertain the reason behind the death of this elephant. That can only be found after a post mortem.”
8. BODY OF DEAD ELEPHANT
9. LOCALS STANDING NEAR THE BODY
10. GARLAND PLACED ON THE BODY OF THE DEAD ELEPHANT
11. OFFICIALS STANDING NEAR THE BODY
12. LOCALS STANDING
STORY: An elephant was found dead by locals and regional officials in a forested area near the Jalpaiguri district of India’s eastern West Bengal state on Sunday (January 30).
Hundreds of locals thronged to see the carcass of the giant mammal and paid tribute by placing garlands on its body.
Strangely, the body of the dead elephant was found in a seated position in a field near the Moraghat forest range.
The pachyderm has been estimated to be around 17-18 years of age.
No signs of an external injury were found in the preliminary examination conducted by experts.
“We have not been able to ascertain the reason behind the death of this elephant. That can only be found after a post mortem,” said Subhash Chandra Ghosh, a forest ranger.
Experts have repeatedly opined that massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced the elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water.
India has over 50 per cent of Asiatic elephants, considered to be among the most intelligent animals, but their population has dwindled in recent years.
