Three elephants electrocuted in UP's Dudhwa national park

Three wild elephants were on Friday electrocuted after they came in contact with a dangling live high voltage cable in the thick confines of Uttar Pradesh's famous Dudhwa National Wildlife Park.

According to the state's Chief Wildlife Conservator, B K Patnaik, "the electrocution was the result of an accident caused by a marching herd of elephants that led to toppling of an electric cable pillar, which brought the live wire down on to the path of the animals". 

"While three of the herd of some 15-odd tuskers were electrocuted, the others promptly withdrew from the scene as they sensed trouble," Patnaik said.

He said the mishap occurred near Bodhiya-kalan village situated on the periphery of the core area of the wildlife sanctuary where the elephants had been spotted a couple of times over the past few days.

A team of six veterinary surgeons were arranged to carry out autopsy on the three elephants. "However, no sooner than the surgeons got down to their job, the remaining herd made an attempt to charge at them. The forest guards and other staff, however, somehow managed to thwart their attempt," said Patnaik.

Eventually, the post-mortem was completed on Saturday morning after which the animals were buried in the forest area, he added.

This was stated to be the first incident of its kind in Dudhwa national park. However, a similar tragedy was witnessed at the world famous Corbett Park where as many as 11 elephants were electrocuted in 1980, say official records.

Dudhwa National Park has been rated as the second biggest wildlife reserve after the Corbett Park in north India.