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Forest Storeroom Breach: Elephant Tusks Vanish!
2 Nov
Summary
- Five elephant tusks, weighing 30-35 kg, stolen from forest storeroom.
- Theft discovered during routine inventory verification in Laldhang.
- An investigation committee has been formed to probe the missing ivory.
A significant security breach has occurred in the Laldhang forest range of Lansdowne forest division, Dehradun, where five elephant tusks, weighing approximately 30 to 35 kg, have been stolen from a secured storeroom. The theft was uncovered during a routine physical audit of 15 tusks, revealing that only 10 remained. These tusks were recovered from deceased elephants and were awaiting mandatory destruction according to wildlife laws.
In response, a committee led by the chief conservator of forests (Garhwal) has been established to investigate the matter and deliver a report within two to three days. Police and forest authorities have launched legal actions to recover the stolen ivory. A case under the forest and wildlife act, along with a zero FIR for theft, has been registered. Additionally, show-cause notices have been issued to the sub-divisional officer of Kotdwar, the Lansdowne range officer, and the storeroom keeper, as part of departmental accountability measures.
While the incident has reignited concerns regarding wildlife security and illegal trade within Uttarakhand's forests, officials have clarified that this is a robbery of already-confiscated items, not a poaching incident. A previous incident in 2023 involved a forest watcher apprehended with ivory, highlighting ongoing challenges in wildlife protection.
