More than 400 people from Andharua village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar gathered on Friday to pay tributes to 40-year-old Ramu, an elephant of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary who died by electrocution after coming in contact with wires 12 days ago.

Villagers came together to observe the 12th-day rituals in remembrance of the deceased tusker, who was cherished by the community.

“Ramu was attached to us for the last 40 years. He used to enter our village in search of food but never attacked anyone. His death on August 19 is a personal loss for all of us and the people from the adjoining villages,” local sarpanch Swarnalata Baliarsingh told The Telegraph.

“Following the death of the tusker Ramu, we decided to organise a shraddha sabha on the 12th day of his death at the panchayat office. More than 400 villagers gathered and shared their memories of the gentle giant,” added the sarpanch.

The villagers have demanded that the remains of Ramu be preserved in the state museum. They have submitted a memorandum to the forest department in this regard.

“His remains would remind us of the bond between man and animal and how both can live in harmony,” said Swarnalata.

“We have received petitions from so many people for the preservation of Ramu’s skeleton.
It takes at least three months for the body to decompose. After that, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF-Wildlife) will take a call on the issue,” Chandaka’s divisional forest officer, Sarat Behera, told this newspaper.

Dilip Tarai, a former sarpanch, said: “It is hard to come to terms with the death of Ramu who was extremely intelligent. It is difficult to accept that an intelligent animal like Ramu accidentally came in contact with wire while trying to eat banana leaves. We suspect that Ramu was killed and his death should be inquired into.”