Investigation Team Arrives in Chitwan Over Wild Elephant Shooting
A committee has arrived in Chitwan to investigate the shooting of a wild elephant named Makuna by the Nepali Army, which was deployed for Chitwan National Park’s security.
Led by Joint Secretary Buddhisagar Paudel from the Ministry of Forests, the team has started discussions with concerned authorities. According to Paudel, they have drafted internal procedures and begun the investigation.
The committee met with Chitwan’s Chief District Officer Prakash Paudel this morning. They also plan to hold discussions with park officials, army representatives, and members of the buffer zone management committee.
The team, formed last Friday, will stay in Chitwan for two days. Tomorrow, they plan to visit the incident site at Kumroj Community Forest and Sauraha’s eastern sector. They will also meet hotel and tourism entrepreneurs in Sauraha to discuss the management of privately owned elephants.
The Nepali Army shot and killed the wild male elephant, Makuna, on Magh 23. The army claimed they fired in self-defense after the elephant charged at them while they were trying to drive it away from the park’s core area.
The five-member investigation team includes senior officials from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the Forest and Land Conservation Department, and a veterinarian from Chitwan National Park.
Makuna had been frequently seen in the Sauraha area since last Srawan but had not caused harm to people. Conservationists have criticized the army’s decision to shoot the elephant in the neck, arguing that killing a wild bull elephant could negatively impact the Elephant Breeding Center in Sauraha.
