Bhubaneswar: Forest Range Officer Trampled to death by Tusker in Kalahandi District

In a tragic incident, a forest range officer lost his life while attempting to drive away a herd of elephants from paddy fields in Odisha’s Kalahandi district. The deceased, identified as 45-year-old Prasanta Pal, was the range officer of Narla. This unfortunate incident marks the first time in the past two decades that a range officer has been killed in the state due to human-elephant conflict.

According to eyewitnesses and initial reports provided by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Susanta Nanda, the tusker suddenly appeared from the bushes, leaving Pal with little time to seek shelter. Pal tragically lost his life on the spot.

Prior to the incident, villagers had raised concerns about potential damage to their harvested paddy. In response, Pal, accompanied by five personnel, went to drive away the herd of approximately 25 elephants from the fields. Unfortunately, Pal’s efforts ended in tragedy as he was trampled to death by the tusker. The forest officials revealed that the villagers had already cut the paddy and gathered it on the fields, fearing that the elephants would destroy their produce.

Initially, the forest staff advised the villagers to wait until the herd left on its own. However, the villagers insisted on driving the elephants away, resulting in the forest personnel’s intervention. Regrettably, the presence of the forest officials seemed to agitate the elephants further, leading to the fatal attack on Pal.

The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between humans and elephants in Odisha, with tragic consequences for both parties involved. The loss of a dedicated forest range officer like Pal serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by wildlife conservationists and the need for effective strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.