Forest protection steel spikes pose fresh threat to Odisha's elephants, wildlife

Bhubaneswar, Nov 13 (UNI) Exposed steel spikes along forest roads in Keonjhar have emerged as a fresh threat to elephants and other wildlife in Odisha, already grappling with high pachyderm mortality from electrocution, train hits and other hazards. Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of the Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), said protruding steel rods on roadside protection walls along the Kanjipani-Telkoi road could seriously injure or kill elephants and other animals descending the forested slopes of Kusuma Ghat near Renda Reserve Forest. The WSO lodged a complaint with the Chief Wildlife Warden on April 13 last, with photographic evidence, seeking directions to…