Elephant goes on rampage, dies of chocking in Orissa

An elephant, after escaping from a sanctuary, went on rampage and died of chocking here on Friday.

Godibari (Orissa), Aug 17: An elephant, after escaping from a sanctuary, went on rampage and died of chocking here on Friday.

Motilal, a fifty-year-old trained elephant of the Chandaka sanctuary, situated about 10 kilometres from Bhubaneshwar, broke free from the sanctuary and went on a rampage at nearby Godibari village.

"This male elephant escaped from the sanctuary at midnight and entered in a nearby village. Two teams from our division followed him to avoid human casualties, but they failed to control him. Then we called a rescue team from Nandankanan (Zoo)," said Akshya Patnaik, Divisional Forest Officer.

Wildlife officials said efforts to calm down the jumbo failed and the animal died of chocking after firing tranquillisers.

Orissa has an estimated 1,800 elephants, but its shrinking habitat force the animal cross over the human settlements, often coming in conflict with man.

At least 151 elephants were poached in the State between 1991-2001, while another 125 died of natural reasons or epidemics. The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has drawn up a 'Project Elephant' to conserve the Asiatic elephant population in the country.

India has an estimated 30,000 wild and captive elephants.

ANI