Bhubaneswar: A bait bomb, reportedly meant for a wild boar, killed a bull at Banki on the fringes of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.According to Niranjan Mohapatra, range officer (Chandaka), the unsuspecting bull got attracted to the bait and swallowed it, following which the bomb exploded in its mouth.“Despite being given the best treatment by veterinarians, the bull succumbed to its injuries. We have launched a thorough probe and manhunt to identify the people who made such bombs and planted them. Our preliminary investigation revealed the bait was a mini pumpkin, packed with explosives,” Mohapatra told TOI.Chandaka officials said the strong-built bull was grazing in the fringe area of the sanctuary when it encountered the bait. “It could also have been fatal for a human because it looked like a food item. We are also verifying if it was planted only to kill wild boar or any other animal,” a Chandaka official said.The Chandaka authorities have stepped up vigilance following the incident to see if more baits have been planted across the fringe area of the forests. Also, local intelligence is being collected as to which groups are proficient in making such a bomb, wildlife officials said.In April, an elephant that suffered severe jaw damage after ingesting a bait ball laced with explosive material, leaving it unable to eat, died a slow and painful death in Baliguda division in Kandhamal district. The nine-year-old giant tusker had wandered nearly 200km from the spot of the explosion in Balangir forest division, surviving for eight agonising days.According to the wildlife authorities, the bait bomb, prepared by mixing gunpowder with food, soon after being swallowed, explodes in the mouth, damaging internal tissues. The tongue is also separated in the impact. As a result, the animal is unable to eat anything.
