Assam Forest Department to Employ Expert Solution to Save Elephants from Lightning

Lightning Kills Herd of 1Elephants in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Forest department will engage experts to find out pragmatic and scientific ways to save elephants from lightning. This move has come after 18 elephants died last month due to lightning in the Barhampur area of Nagaon district. The post-mortem carried out by a six-member team of veterinarians headed by Deputy Conservator of Forests KK Deori has confirmed that jumbos died due to "accidental electrocution by lightning."

The findings said that one of the carcasses had "charred marks" on the ear and a "burnt streak" over the left shoulder blade. Another had similar marks on its footpad. The histopathology report said that the lesions were "suggestive of high-intensity electrical burn injuries."

"The incident was very tragic. The Forest department is committed to prevent and minimize a repeat of such incidents in future. We will engage experts to find out pragmatic and scientific ways to prevent similar deaths. Possibilities of installing anti-lightning devices along the elephant corridors and jumbo-inhabited areas will be explored," a senior Forest department official said.

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