Odisha Govt To Form Joint Task Force To Prevent Elephant Deaths

Cuttack: The Odisha government will set up a joint task force (JTF) to prevent and probe elephant death cases.

This was stated in an affidavit filed by the Director General of Police (DGP) in the Orissa High Court on Thursday in response to the court’s direction on a PIL filed on death of a number of elephants in the state recently.

The DGP said the joint task force will comprise officials of the State Police and Forest department and and wildlife experts. Apart from checking elephant deaths, the JTF will prevent the trafficking of wild animals and banned wildlife products.

The court fixed the date of next hearing of the case on September 26.