Ten elephants were died last week by fungus-induced poisons in the standing kodo millet crop that the animals consumed near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
According to a thorough toxicology assessment published on the evening of November 5 by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR) in Bareilly, the stomach contents of the deceased elephants had extremely high concentrations of cyclopiazonic acid, a toxin generated by fungi that are known to harm crops.
Vijay N. Ambade, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), stated in a statement that “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet” may have been the cause of the deaths.
What is Kodo Millets
Kodra and Varagu are other names for Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) in India. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa are among the countries that grow the crop.
Madhya Pradesh is one of the biggest producers of millet, which is thought to have originated in India.
Kodo millets can be used to make a variety of well-known foods, such as rotis, papad, chakli, dosa, idli, and porridges.
Ten elephants die in Bandhavgarh
The employees of Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve received an unpleasant surprise on October 29.
Six elephants were discovered sick, and four died elephants were discovered in Sankhani and Bakeli in the Khitoli area of the Reserve.
Four additional elephants died the following day in spite of treatment, and two more on October 31.
The post-mortems of the elephants were even more startling: according to press accounts, officials stated that all of the dead elephants had a lot of kodo millets in their bodies.
This suggested that the kodo crops contained chemicals that might have killed the elephants, but officials said that further toxicology testing would be needed to verify this.
All samples had more than 100 parts per billion of cyclopiazonic acid, which indicates that the elephants “may have consumed large quantity of kodo plant/grains,” according to the IVRI, which also tested for the presence of a wide range of insecticides but found none in the stomach samples of the dead elephants.
The study suggests that in order to prevent harm to domestic or other wild animals, fungus-infected kodo crops in the region should be inspected and removed.
Action Taken
Following an emergency meeting he had called on Sunday, November 3, the chief minister declared that the state would take a number of actions, such as forming an Elephant Task Force and radio-collaring elephants to learn more about their activities throughout the state.
A special investigation team was formed by the state government to look into the incident; on November 4, the government also suspended an Assistant Conservator of Forests and the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve for “negligence” in carrying out their duties and failing to monitor the movements of the local elephant herd.
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau was also enlisted by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change to look into the matter.
When was the last time kodo poisoning led to death?
According to Madhya Pradesh’s wildlife department officials, one elephant died in 2022 after consuming poisonous kodo millet.
However, researchers say that no human deaths from kodo millet poisoning have been reported.
Date : 16th November 2024
Time : 10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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