Dehradun, Oct. 3 -- The Haridwar Forest Division is in the news again for wrong reasons. This division is now witnessing a distressing rise in elephant mortalities. In a short span of just six days, the carcass of a third elephant has been recovered under circumstances that authorities have described as suspicious. Experts insist that the spate of fatalities should be seen against the backdrop of ongoing investigations into illegal wildlife crime in the Division, including a venom trade scandal, intensifying scrutiny of forest practices and protection measures.

Traditionally, Haridwar Division is known for being a very crucial transit zone for elephants, especially given its proximity to Rajaji National Park, which lies partly in the Har...