Environmentalists are concerned about the murders of 10 elephant in three times in a national park in northern India.
The animals, portion of a flock of 13 animals, died over 29-31 October at the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh position.
According to a preliminary toxicology statement, the elephants may have perished from consuming a fungus-infected wheat crop.
The murders have generated national stories and condemnation, putting the country’s authorities on the back legs.
“]The toxicology report indicates ] that the elephants had consumed a large quantity of decayed kodo]millet ] plants and grains”, said L Krishna Murthy, a senior forest official who is leading an inquiry into the deaths.
First unconfirmed reports suggested that farmers had poisoned the elephants to stop them from destroying crops. However, according to federal officials, there is no evidence of deliberate poison.
According to the chemistry report, examples taken from the dead elephants contained cyclopiazonic acid, a bacterial neurotoxin.
They are alleged to have consumed a lot of kodo cereals, which are typically grown in dry areas like India, Pakistan, and parts of West Africa.
Madhya Pradesh is the producer of about 35 % of Indian kodo grain.
The crop grows quickly, can withstand drought conditions and can be stored for long periods. It is also easy to digest and has several health benefits.
But some studies have found that eating the millet can cause “intoxication and poisoning” as the grains are “frequently infested” with a kind of fungus that produces cyclopiazonic acid.
Another study, done by researchers at the Indian Institute of Millets Research, says that while many “crops suffer from [cyclopiazonic acid] contamination, major adverse effects have been recorded only in kodo millet because of lack of scientific management”. They also suggest that some practices, such as drying the harvested crop quickly, could ensure it is safe.
Although they are not that numerous, there have been reports of animal deaths following the consumption of the crop.
In 1933, 14 elephants died near a forest in the southern state of Tamil Nadu after consuming kodo millets, according to a report co-authored by ecologist Raman Sukumar and mycologist TS Suryanarayanan in Down to Earth magazine.
Mr. Sukumar, who has done extensive research on the Asiatic elephant conflict and human-wildlife discord, told the BBC that animals usually eat millets when they enter areas looking for food.
Animals have a good sense of smell, but toxins are odourless and disgusting.
Elephants, in my opinion, made an effort to consume as much food as possible because they knew farmers may flee them.
He adds that the grains ‘ bacterial progress was likely caused by the weather as well. Weeks before the murders, there were big rains in the region, producing damp conditions conducive to fungal infections.
Officials in rural areas close to the national park destroyed some plants after news reports began to blame kodo millets.
The chemistry report advises examining and destroying the crop waste and preventing the access of domestic and wild animals into these fields.
However, local farmers claim that there have n’t been any adverse effects from their years of growing kodo millets.
Additionally, according to Mr. Sukumar, it is still uncommon for bacterial infections to result in toxins in kodo millets.
” The animals were shocking this time”, he says.
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