Eight Elephants Dead in 48 Hours in MP’s Bandhavgarh Reserve, Poisoning Suspected
In a tragic series of events, eight elephants were reported dead within 48 hours in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, raising alarms among wildlife authorities and conservationists. The elephants, part of a herd of 13, included seven females around three years old and one young male between four to five years old. The last carcass was discovered on Wednesday after seven were found the previous day. Meanwhile, a ninth elephant from the group remains in critical condition, while a tenth has shown signs of recovery and was released following medical intervention. The three other herd members are currently under careful monitoring.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) responded promptly by sending a three-member investigative team to the reserve. Alongside them, a five-member team from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has launched a separate inquiry, with a final report expected in 10 days. Preliminary suspicions indicate that poisoning could be the primary cause behind the deaths.
Investigators have conducted extensive searches across over a dozen farms and households in the vicinity of the elephant carcasses, covering a five-kilometer radius and involving more than 100 forest officials, including a specialized canine unit. Five individuals have been questioned to gather more insights.
One area of investigation focuses on the possible consumption of Kodo millet seeds, which, when contaminated with a specific fungus, can produce cyclopiazonic acid—a potent toxin. Samples for testing have been taken from the elephants’ fecal matter, soil, plants in the vicinity, as well as nearby fields and a local watering hole.
Officials are also exploring the possibility of man-animal conflicts in the area, which might have contributed to the poisoning incident. The investigative teams are, however, facing challenges due to the presence of a larger, more aggressive herd of around 20 elephants and three tigers in the same region, which complicates the search efforts.
