A wild elephant died falling from the hills in Ramu upazila in Cox's Bazar on Saturday dawn. The accident took place in the hilly area of Khunia Palang of Ramu.
Chairman of the Khuniapalong Union Parishad Abdul Mabud said a large elephant died on Saturday night after falling off a hill in the village of Pashchim Goalia Jhukri Para under ward no.8 of the Khunia Palang Union. He informed the Forest Department and Upazila administration about the matter when he heard of it.
Upon receiving the news, a team led by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Veterinary Surgeon of the Forest Department visited the spot. Chief executive of an environmentalist organization ‘Environment People; Rashedul Majid said due to deforestation, wild animals are coming to the locality in search of foods. In doing so, they are facing dangerous conditions. As a result many wild elephants are dying in different ways. We need to save these wild elephants for our own sake.
Ramu Upazila Nirbahi Officer Pronoy Chakma said, the elephant died in a hilly area and there is no electricity or human settlement in the area. A team led by the Veterinary Surgeon conducted autopsy of the dead elephant and later, it was buried.
Cox’s Bazar Veterinary Surgeon Rupam Chakma said, I went to the scene along with my team and collected the samples. In the presence of the Forest Department official and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, I conducted autopsy of the elephant. It was primarily confirmed that the elephant fell off the hill.
Humayun Kabir, divisional officer Coxs Bazar South Forest Department & Officer Humayun Kabir said the elephant that died was very old. He added that special surgeon of Dulhazra Bangabandhu Safari Park came to collect the ivory from the elephant. The teeth will be sent to wherever the authorities concerned directs, he added.
