Killer elephant loses tusks in Nepal

Reuters

November 19, 2006

KATHMANDU, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Authorities in Nepal tranquillised an elephant and trimmed its tusks after it was blamed for a dozen deaths in the country's east over the past six weeks, wildlife officials said on Sunday.

"We first darted the elephant with tranquillisers on Saturday and cut its tusks by a handsaw," said Murari Prasad Pokharel, a senior forest officer from Sunsari district, about 200 km (125 miles) east of Kathmandu, where the operation was carried out.

The rampaging elephant had killed at least 12 people in Sunsari, and neighbouring Morang district since October.

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