More jumbo electrocutions worry activists

A team of forest department staff, who were on a patrol, found the wild tusker lying dead near a farm at Elanchi village under Kadambur forest on Saturday. An examination by the forest department veterinarian revealed that the animal had died of electrocution. 

A case has been registered and a search is on for the farm owner identified as Krishnasamy, who had put up the illegal electric fence to protect his crops from being damaged by the wild animals. 

Only on May 3, a tusker, around 11 years was electrocuted when it came in contact with an electric fence in Neithalapuram village in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. In this incident too, a case has been registered against the farm owner identified as Karuppanna Gowder. However, he is still on the run and the forest department is yet to make any arrests. 

Just a fortnight ago, a 15-year old elephant died of starvation in Anthiyur in Erode district. Similarly in March, this year, a wild tusker died of electrocution as it came into contact with a live fence at Mathipalayam near Madukkarai forest range in Coimbatore. The tusker, which ventured out of the forest cover on Tuesday night, had attempted to cross over a three feet height live fence erected around a pumpkin farm. 

Back to back deaths of wild elephants due to avoidable reasons have worried wildlife activists, who seek the forest department to make strict enforcement to prevent farmers from raising electric fencing to safeguard their crops. 

“Electrocution deaths of wild animals happen to be a continuing tragedy. It can be curbed only through stringent punishments,” said NI Jalaluddin, president of Nature Conservation Society (NCS).