GUWAHATI: Aaranyak, Northeast’s premier biodiversity organization, has expressed deep concern and outrage over the ‘illegal disposal’ of a female elephant carcass inside the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd campus in Assam’s Golaghat district.
The organization highlighted that the incident, which took place on July 18, underscores the persistent threats faced by elephants in their natural habitat, particularly in the district that serves as a vital elephant corridor.
Taking cognizance of the incident, Aaranyak, a member of the State Board of Wildlife, Assam, and former member of the National Board of Wildlife, has demanded a thorough probe and legal action against those responsible for the illegal disposal of the elephant carcass without informing the Forest Department.
“Reports indicate that the elephant died due to suspected electrocution after coming into contact with an exposed power cable within the Butterfly Park adjacent to the refinery. What is even more shocking is the refinery authorities buried the elephant without notifying the forest department, in gross violation of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as amended in 2022,” said Dr. Bibhuti P Lahkar, Head of Elephant Research and Conservation Division, Aaranyak.
Lahkar said elephants that are classified as Schedule I animals under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022, and recognized as endangered species deserve the highest level of protection and respect.
He said this incident raises serious questions regarding the operational protocols of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited, its intention, and its commitment to the welfare of wildlife.
“The illegal disposal of the elephant carcass not just undermines the legal framework designed to protect endangered species but also reflects a concerning disregard for the ecological integrity of the region. We call upon the authorities to take immediate action to address this situation,” Lahkar said.
He said the organization is demanding immediate filing of a criminal case against Numaligarh Refinery Limited for alleged violations of Sections 39 and 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022.
“It is essential to implement stricter safety measures to protect wildlife, particularly in the Numaligarh Refinery campus,” Lahkar said.
