On Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the suspension of two senior officials from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve after a high-level investigation into the deaths of ten elephants in the park. The investigation team submitted its report, which did not indicate any involvement of pesticides or external factors.
Reserve Director Gaurav Choudhary and Assistant Conservator of Forest Fateh Singh Ninama were suspended for alleged negligence, including failure to respond to work obligations and poor communication. The CM expressed deep concern over the elephant fatalities, labeling the situation as “very painful,” and emphasized that the government is treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
Yadav noted that the preliminary findings do not suggest any toxic substances in the elephants’ food. He stated, “The post-mortem reports are expected in two to three days.” Previously, officials had mentioned the presence of large quantities of kodo millet in the stomachs of the deceased elephants, leading to suspicions of toxicity.
An emergency meeting convened by the CM led to the dispatch of a team, including Forest Minister Pradeep Ahirwar and additional chief secretary Ashok Baranwal, to assess the situation on-site. The team returned to Bhopal on Sunday evening after completing their investigation.
The elephant deaths occurred between October 29 and October 31, with four elephants found dead in the Sankhani and Bakeli areas of the reserve. Investigations continue as multiple teams work to uncover the cause of this tragic incident.
