India, Dec. 15 -- Amid a pate of poaching incidents highlighting escalating wildlife crime and deepening human-animal conflict, a tusker was reportedly shot dead in Angul Forest Division in Odisha on Sunday night. The incident took place near Manikjodi village under Pokunda section of the forest division.

As per preliminary reports, the pachyderm had strayed into the Baliapashi area near the village when poachers opened fire at it. The elephant succumbed to gunshot injuries at the spot.

After information about the incident surfaced on Monday morning, the Forest Range Officer along with other forest personnel rushed to the site and started investigation. The killing of the elephant comes close on the heels of a similar incident where a ...