A male wild elephant that had ingested explosive material in India’s eastern state of Odisha has died during treatment, Indian media reported on Sunday, calling the incident both tragic and alarming.
According to reports, the elephant was critically injured after consuming explosives and was undergoing treatment at the Kapilah Elephant Treatment Centre, where it later succumbed to its injuries.
The animal’s condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting forest officials to transport it to the centre using a specialised elephant rescue vehicle.
Forest department officials said the elephant was unable to stand due to the severity of its wounds and had to be lifted into the rescue vehicle with the help of a crane.
Despite continuous medical care and efforts by veterinary teams, the animal could not survive.
The elephant was first spotted in a distressed condition near Pathar Gada Sahi in the Bantala forest range.
Officials believed the animal had consumed the explosive material five to six days earlier, causing deep internal injuries.
Authorities confirmed that the blast resulted in severe wounds inside the elephant’s mouth, suggesting the explosive may have been part of an illegal trap set by poachers.
However, officials said the exact circumstances are still under investigation, and a probe is underway to determine responsibility.