Wild buffalo ‘poisoned’ in Khuntuni forest, raising concerns

CUTTACK: The carcasses of eight wild buffaloes, suspected to have died of poisoning, have been lying unattended near Sauria village, within Gurdijhatia police limits, for four days.

The dead animals were residents of Baniabandha reserve forest under Khuntuni range in Athagarh division. After spotting the carcasses, villagers informed the local forest officials. However, the officials said that the buffaloes do not belong to the endangered species and placed the responsibility of removing the carcasses on the local administration.

Khuntuni range officer NM Sahu said, “The wild buffaloes were in the Baniabandha reserve forest. Since the dead animals are not endangered species, we cannot conduct autopsy, bury the carcasses and initiate an investigation to ascertain the cause of their death.”

There are about 100 wild buffaloes living in the reserve forest. The buffaloes can be considered as stray animals, he added.