Mysterious Elephant Deaths in Jharkhand Forests: Third Elephant Found Dead in 15 Days, No Visible Injuries Puzzles Forest Department

Chaibasa, Jharkhand: The mysterious deaths of elephants in the Chaibasa forest area of West Singhbhum district have raised serious concerns for the forest department. On Tuesday, the carcass of another male elephant was discovered in the Sosopi forest. Remarkably, the elephant showed no external injuries, and its tusks were intact, leaving officials baffled.

Third Elephant in Two Weeks
Worryingly, this marks the third unexplained elephant death in less than two weeks in the Chaibasa forest division. The deceased male elephant, aged approximately 15–20 years, was found without any visible wounds. Smita Pankaj, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests, Kolhan Division, described the incident as a “mystery” and admitted that officials are anxious to determine the cause of death.

Forensic Investigation Underway
The forest department is awaiting the viscera reports of two female elephants found dead under similar mysterious circumstances on November 15. The samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Ranchi for analysis.

To expedite the investigation, senior forest officials are considering sending the male elephant’s viscera simultaneously to Ranchi FSL and the Veterinary Unit at Birsa Agricultural University, ensuring a faster determination of the cause of death.

These unexplained fatalities have already sparked concern in the Kolhan region, with various speculations emerging regarding the sudden loss of wildlife. Authorities emphasize the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the underlying reasons behind these mysterious deaths and to ensure the safety of the forest’s elephant population.