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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/06/23/stories/2008062352320300.htm)

Kerala

-

Palakkad

 

Environmentalists see threat to wildlife

 

Staff Reporter

 

Cite recent electrocution of elephant, poisoning of leopard in Palakkad Forest

Division

 

Wild victims: A wild leopard which was found poisoned at the Nelliampathy hills

in Palakkad district undergoing treatment at Veterinary College, Mannuthy, in

Thrissur; (right) a wild elephant which was found electrocuted at Dhoni in the

Palakkad Forest Division recently.

 

 

PALAKKAD: The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) has demanded a

detailed investigation into the recent killing of wild animals in the

Parambikulam-Nelliampathy-Vazhachal forest areas of Western Ghats, proposed as a

tiger reserve.

In a statement here on Sunday, regional coordinator of WPSI S. Guruvayurappan

said that while the whole world was celebrating Environment Week, an adult wild

elephant was poached by electrocution in a private estate, near Dhoni, in the

Palakkad Forest Division.

The poachers had meticulously removed the evidence and the Forest officials were

also about to close the incident as case of natural death. But, WPSI had

collected evidence of electrocution. The piles of elephant dung, the unnatural

posture of the dead elephant etc. were other evidence which pointed to the cause

of the unnatural death.

This had helped the Forest Department file a case and arrest the accused. Cases

were registered against four persons and three of them were arrested.Two of the

accused, George and Biju, were previously engaged in sale of illicit liquor and

hunting of wildlife, including sambar deers and wild boars, for selling their

meat, the statement said.

In another incident in the Nelliampathy hills in the district, a leopard was

found in a critical condition by tea estate workers. It was found that the

animal had consumed poison mixed in cattle meat.The doctors had said that there

were major injuries to its head and neck. The animal was in a serious condition

and had been undergoing treatment at Veteranary College, Mannuthy, Thrissur for

the last one week.

The leopard had not yet started taking food. When the animal was transferred

from Nemmara, it was taking water and was able to stand. Now its condition had

worsened. Disturbance from human beings and separation from its mother leopard

was worsening the situation. What had happened to the mother and the other cubs

were not known, Mr. Guruvayurappan said.

A detailed investigation on the killing of wildlife in Nelliampathy,

Parambikulam and the Vazhachal forests was urgently needed to curtail poaching

and ensure protection of wildlife, he said.

 

 

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