Nagpur: Two sloth bears were electrocuted in Lakhni forest range under Bhandara forest division on Sunday. Bhandara deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Rahul Gavai confirmed the two sloth bears, around 5 years, were found dead on farmland owned by Shriram Gaidhane and Rajkumar Kodape in Rampuri village.
“We have summoned both farmers, but no arrests have been made yet. We are investigating. The veterinarian has said prima facie the animal deaths were due to electrocution,” Gavai said.
The farms are located in Navegaon-Nagzira corridor near Mohghata. The spot where the sloth bears were killed is the same where last year a herd of 23 wild elephants had been spotted.
“The incident once again shows that no steps are being taken by MSEDCL and the state forest department to check electrocution, and the tall claims of joint anti-electrocution drives seem to be a farce,” said honorary wildlife warden Uday Patel.
Even though the sloth bear is a Schedule I animal, range forest officer (RFO) Suraj Gokhale did not wait for representatives ACF Roshan Rathod and Bhandara honorary wildlife warden Shahid Pervez Khan to arrive for post mortem and last rites, sources said.
Gokhale did not respond to calls. Gavai said though the post mortem protocol is for tigers and leopards, he would look into why the animals were cremated in a hurry.
“We have summoned both farmers, but no arrests have been made yet. We are investigating. The veterinarian has said prima facie the animal deaths were due to electrocution,” Gavai said.
The farms are located in Navegaon-Nagzira corridor near Mohghata. The spot where the sloth bears were killed is the same where last year a herd of 23 wild elephants had been spotted.
“The incident once again shows that no steps are being taken by MSEDCL and the state forest department to check electrocution, and the tall claims of joint anti-electrocution drives seem to be a farce,” said honorary wildlife warden Uday Patel.
Even though the sloth bear is a Schedule I animal, range forest officer (RFO) Suraj Gokhale did not wait for representatives ACF Roshan Rathod and Bhandara honorary wildlife warden Shahid Pervez Khan to arrive for post mortem and last rites, sources said.
Gokhale did not respond to calls. Gavai said though the post mortem protocol is for tigers and leopards, he would look into why the animals were cremated in a hurry.