Podcast
Elephant kills 11 in southern Nepal
Updated: 2009-12-10 13:34
Wildlife officials were combing the jungles of southern Nepal yesterday in search of a wild elephant that has killed 11 people in the past two weeks.
District Forest Officer Yadav Dhital said wildlife guards were trying to track the elusive animal but had been unable to find any traces.
The elephant has killed 11 people in three districts of southern Nepal, about 320 kilometers south of the capital, Kathmandu, he said.
The animal keeps disappearing into the jungle and local villagers, who mostly live in one-story huts, are scared, Dhital said, adding that villagers have been using smoke, fire crackers and drums to try to keep it away.
One of the villagers who was killed was attempting to worship the animal as Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god, he said.
Bedh Karki, a government administrator in the area, said local authorities were waiting for help and orders from the central government on dealing with the situation.
Elephants are considered protected species in Nepal and can only be shot with orders from the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Karki said.
Officials believe the animal recently crossed into Nepal from neighboring India.
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
