BHUBANESWAR: With controversy still raging over serial poaching of elephants in the heart of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), the Wildlife Wing of the Forest and Environment Department has requested the State Government to hand over investigation to Crime Branch (CB) of State Police.Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) J D Sharma said he had already submitted a request in this regard to the Government. Earlier, Chief Secretary B K Patnaik had sought to know from the CWW’s office if the CB is competent to take up investigation in the matter.On May 6, alleged poisoning of elephants in STR had come to light following recovery of skin and skeletal remains of four elephants in Ballikhal under Nawana South Range in STR’s core area. A few days later, similar remains of three more elephants were reported.While the Forest Department launched an inquiry immediately, the CWW himself made a spot visit. Later, the range officer of Nawana South was suspended.Though Wildlife Wing sent the skins and the skeletal remains to Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to ascertain the forensic details of the animals, the killings, which appeared to have taken place in distant past, remain a mystery.The CWW said, “We have requested for the CB inquiry since it is the best agency to probe the criminal angles, such as possible role of organised gangs, behind the serial killings of the elephants in Similipal.”The CB, on its part, is also keen to investigate the case too. Contacted, ADG of CB Bijay Kumar Sharma said no reference from the Government over investigation had reached his office but CB would be happy to take up the investigation. “The CB has experience in investigating elephant poaching in the past. In 2007, we had successfully carried out such a probe. Besides, we have a team of officers who have exposure to wildlife crimes,” said Sharma, who himself is an experienced wildlife crime investigator.
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