Time for people to stop doubting the death of the big elephant that reportedly strayed into some communities in Oyo and Kwara states early this year but rather wait to know details and circumstances surrounding its sudden death.
This is because the conservator – general, National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni has reacted briefly to the news of the animal’s death.
Dr. Goni who spoke with our correspondent on phone on Sunday morning expressed disappointment over the incident, saying an official statement would soon be made.
Meanwhile, residents of various communities where the elephant lived last in Kwara and Oyo states have mourned the elephant’s death, including local farmers who earlier alleged destruction of their crops by the late animal.
According to them, the elephant would be mostly missed for its friendliness and tourist attraction to their area.
It would be recalled that the elephant after it was reportedly captured by a team of officers from the University of Ibadan zoological garden in collaboration with Saki West local government was translocated to the zoological garden on the 16th of February but died on the 17th of February,this year.
This is even as a postmortem activities had been carried out on the wildlife.
Speaking with our correspondent who visited the zoological garden to see the animal,, the Acting director, zoological garden, University of Ibadan, Dr Kehinde Popoola, said the entire organs in the elephant were examined by Veterinary Pathologists of the institution, adding that the experts in the veterinary Pathology department, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE were in the right position to give adequate information on the cause of the death of the animal.
Dr Popoola said though efforts were made to rescue the animal through the provision of right diet, it however died eventually.
The U.I acting Director of zoological garden said the tusks of the elephant had been deposited in the custody of relevant security agencies pending further decision on them.
Dr Popoola who said about forty elephant were currently discovered to be roaming between Ogun and Lagos States said government should intensify efforts to rescue the animals which he said constituted threat to farming activities in the region.
Our Correspondent observed that the elephant had been disemboweled while a grave had already been dug around it for burial.
Kayode Oguntona/Rotimi Famakin
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