Kandhamal/Kalahandi, Odisha – January 23, 2026 In a disturbing development that has raised serious questions about wildlife protection in Odisha, forest officials have recovered mutilated and buried body parts of a dead elephant near the village of a suspended forest ranger in the Tahansir area of Kesinga, Kalahandi district.
/odishatv/media/media_files/2026/01/22/odisha-elephant-death-mystery-mutilated-carcass-recovered-from-buried-pit-in-kalahandi-probe-deepens-2026-01-22-10-45-02.jpeg)
The elephant, a sub-adult tusker, was first discovered dead on January 5 in the Jhiripani area under Belaghar range of Baliguda forest division in Kandhamal district. Initial reports ruled out poaching, as the tusks remained intact. However, the carcass mysteriously vanished from the site, prompting suspicions of a deliberate cover-up.
Forest Ranger Binaya Kumar Bisi (also referred to as Binay Kumar Bisi) of Belaghar range was suspended on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to suppress the incident. Without informing superiors or conducting a proper post-mortem, the carcass was reportedly exhumed, cut into pieces, and reburied at different locations to conceal the death.
Acting on credible leads, a joint task force led by Baliguda Divisional Forest Officer Ghanshyam Mohanta and Tumudibandh Range Officer Kalicharan Behera conducted a search operation on Wednesday. They exhumed the fragmented remains from a nearly seven-foot-deep pit near a dam, close to the suspended ranger’s residence in Tahansir village.
Recovered parts included the trunk, neck, head, legs, and other decomposed sections. Officials confirmed this points to an organized effort to hide the elephant’s death, involving forest personnel entrusted with protecting wildlife.
The remains have been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death and gather further evidence. A detailed inquiry is underway to establish the full sequence of events, identify all involved parties, and recommend strict action.
This incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha, highlighting potential lapses in internal accountability within the forest department. Wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists are demanding transparency and stronger safeguards for elephants in the state.
At Jungle Tak, we continue to track such cases closely to raise awareness about wildlife conservation challenges in central India. Stay tuned for updates on the investigation.
#gajah #OdishaWildlife #ElephantConservation #WildlifeCrime #KandhamalNews
