Early Tuesday morning, villagers in Choparu made a grim discovery. An adult male elephant lay dead in a potato field. The location was close to the Ramgarh-Bokaro national highway, roughly 28 kilometers from the Ramgarh district headquarters.
Officials Suspect Anthrax as Cause
Forest department officials arrived swiftly at the scene. Their initial assessment pointed towards anthrax. A team of veterinary doctors conducted an immediate inspection of the carcass.
Veterinary doctor Rajesh Kumar performed the preliminary examination. He noted the absence of any external injury marks on the elephant's body. However, he observed bleeding from the animal's nose. This symptom often aligns with anthrax infections.
"Prima facie, it seems that the elephant died of anthrax," Dr. Kumar stated. "The tissues and other samples have been preserved. We are sending them to the forensic laboratory for confirmatory tests."Massive Crowd Gathers Despite Past Fear
The news of the elephant's death spread quickly through the surrounding villages. A large crowd assembled at the site. Thousands of people came, including many women and children.
This turnout was notable given recent history. A lone elephant had terrorized the district in December of last year. That animal was responsible for killing at least six people in separate incidents. Yet, curiosity overcame fear, drawing the massive gathering.
Official Burial and Investigation Details
Forest officials organized the burial of the elephant. They used a heavy earthmover to dig a deep trench in the field. The carcass was carefully placed inside and covered.
Ramgarh’s divisional forest officer (DFO) addressed the situation. "It is not a case of poisoning or killing," the officer clarified. "But a proper investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause."
R.K. Singh, the range officer for Gola Forest, provided further details. He confirmed that both tusks from the elephant had been safely preserved by the authorities.
The incident has cast a somber mood over the area. Officials continue their probe, awaiting final laboratory results to confirm the preliminary findings of anthrax.
