TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The postmortem conducted on the carcasses of both the Indian bisons, which were found dead in Pernem last week, has confirmed that they died due to electrocution. No arrests have been made in the case so far.
Range Forest Officer (RFO) Vilas Gawas said that the post mortem on the carcases of both the bisons has confirmed that they died due to electric shock. The forest department’s investigation has revealed that a 200-metre long wire was pulled from a nearby electricity pole and current was passed through it. “Both the animals died when they came in contact with the live wire,” he said.
The preliminary inquiry conducted in the incident had revealed that the animals were felled by farmers as they the farms, Gawas said.
The carcasses of two Indian bison were found in the jungles of Alorna in Pernem about 250 metres away from each other. “The animal was killed to save the crops from being damaged and not to sell their meat to hoteliers,” Gawas said.
Gawas said that the department has questioned several farmers living in the areas; however, arrests are yet to be made.
Indian bison is a protected species under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, and an accused can be sentenced up to seven years in jail for killing the animal.
