Orissa High Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the poaching of an elephant in the Simlipal tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj, and directed the forest department to keep it informed about the steps being taken for the safety of the elephants and mapping of elephant corridors.

According to the report, the carcass of an elephant was found inside the tiger reserve, which enjoys the status of a national park.

The tusk of the elephant was missing. It is suspected that the poachers had killed the elephant and taken away the tusk.

It was alleged that forest officials at the lower rung in charge of that area instead of informing the higher-ups, tried to hide the information and disposed of the carcass. They set the carcass on fire.

Regional chief conservator of forest, Baripada (Mayurbhanj), and field director of Simlipal tiger reserve T. Ashok Kumar told The Telegraph: “According to the inquiry report, an elephant was found dead inside the Simlipal sanctuary on November 2. Within five days, forest officials in charge of that area with their support staff made an attempt to destroy the evidence. Being the field officers, they should have informed me. I received an anonymous call about the elephant’s death on December 7. I immediately inquired into the matter and next day placed three officials under suspension. Now the case is in the high court. However, we are trying to find the real culprit behind the death of the elephant.”

According to the status report submitted by the forest department, it has found a few bones and flesh from the nearby waterfall where the burnt carcass of the elephant was disposed of.

The high court on Tuesday took up the matter for hearing.

Advocate Ashish Kumar Mishra said: “The high court was annoyed with the rising have been taken on the construction of elephant corridor.”

He said: “The high court also wanted to know why no FIR has been lodged against the officials.”

The high court reportedly said: “We are reacting to a situation but not preventing anything from happening. We must know what preventive measures we have put in place and how quickly we can put them in place.”