Siliguri, 21st June: In a heart-breaking incident, an elephant calf lost its life after a collision with a dumper in Gajaldoba. The unfortunate event has sparked outrage among various wildlife and animal welfare organizations across Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, prompting them to submit a memorandum to the North Bengal Chief Forester Bhaskar JV in Jabravita.
Reportedly, the elephant calf sustained severe injuries when it was struck by the dumper on Thursday. Subsequently, forest officials rescued the calf and rushed it to Bengal Safari for treatment. Despite the efforts, the baby elephant succumbed to its injuries overnight.
Expressing their concerns, nearly 10 wildlife organizations of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri protested against the unrestricted movement of dumpers along main roads within the sanctuary. On Friday a memorandum pertaining to the matter was immediately submitted to the Chief Forester of North Bengal Bhaskar JV urging immediate actions to safeguard the wildlife in the region.
In this regard, the director of the wildlife conservation organization Snap Foundation, Kaustav Chowdhury highlighted that the elephant died due to the impact of a dumper in Gajaldoba. In response, a memorandum was submitted urging the control of the movement of dumpers, installation of cameras, speed breakers, and a ban on the movement of dumpers through the core forest.
On the other hand, North Bengal Chief Forester Bhaskar JV confirmed the elephant’s passing and stated that the rescue operation was unsuccessful. Wildlife organizations have appealed about the movement of the dumper. If necessary, various measures will be taken including monitoring the movement of the dumper at night.