Overview

• Odisha suspended a forest guard and a forester for dereliction of duty following the July 31 tusker attack in Baghadharia that killed three villagers.
• The state government pledged Rs 10 lakh in ex-gratia payments to each bereaved family under rules for deaths caused by protected animals.
• Chhattisgarh forest authorities are investigating four elephant-related fatalities in Surguja district over two days and have detained three men for illegally electrifying wires that electrocuted a jumbo in Korba.
• Angry residents in Dhenkanal and Surguja blocked roads near Satamile chowk and Lundra Forest Range to press for immediate installation of solar fencing and 24×7 patrols.
• Wildlife activists warn that shrinking habitats and fragmented corridors are driving elephants into agricultural areas, intensifying conflicts across both states.