Bhubaneswar, August 17 (odisha.in) Motilal, the blue-eyed favorite of the forest officials and tourists, the only trained elephant which was guarding Chandaka reserve forest against timer smugglers and poachers is no more. It breathed it’s last on Thursday under mysterious circumstances.
Motilal, a “makhna” (male elephant without tusks) was in “maast ” since last two days
and went amok on Thursday evening . It’s mahut Chilu Nayak was on leave and all efforts by mahuts brought from Nandankananzoo to bring Motilal under control failed.
It broke the chain that were tied to its feet and ran into the nearby helmet where it smashed few houses. Finally Dr. Ranjait Kumar Samataray, the Veterinary Doctor from Nandankanan was called to the spot on Friday morning.
When Dr. Samantaray reached the spot Motilal was also behaving abnormally. Dr. Samantaray fired tranquilizer gun to bring him under control.
After getting few doses of tranquilizers, Motilal became more violent and smashed a store house where fodders were stored. He ate away some dry fodders and suddenly collapsed, as it choked his respiratory system.
Motilal’s sudden demise came as a shock and surprise for the Dr. Samantaray as well as
Divisional forest officer Akshya Kumar Patnaik as well as for the local people who had become friendly with him during the past over two years.
Now the Forest Department is probing into the real cause of death of Motilal, whether it was due to over dose of tranquilizer or due to suffocation. Only after the postmortem it can be ascertained.
Motilal was a tamed elephant, which was deserted by it’s Mahut at Hindol in Dhenkanal district, after he was involved in a criminal case and was arrested.
Though Motilal is a male elephant it has no tusks. After the Mahut deserted it, it was brought to the sanctuary for rehabilitation towards end of 2004. Motilal being a tamed elephant responded well to the commands of the new Mahut Chilu Nayak employed by the sanctuary authority.
Because of shortage of staff and want of arms and ammunition for them, the sanctuary which is in charge of Divisional Forest Officer, Bhubaneswar was facing the onslaught of the timber smugglers and poachers frequently.
However after arrival of Motilal, the sanctuary authority have got sigh of relief to certain extent as it is being used to guard the forest against timber smugglers and poachers.
After observing its behavioral attitude, the sanctuary authority decided to use it for guarding the forest against timber smugglers and poachers which has started giving good result.
Because of presence of Motilal near the entry point of the sanctuary many of the 65 elephants of the sanctuary were frequenting the area creating panic among the smugglers and poachers. Now with the untimely and sudden death of Motilal, all the plans of the Forest Department to utilize it’s services have been shelved for ever.
Odisha.in