Context

Six elephants died of haemorrhagic septicaemia in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kalahandi district within 14 days of time.

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What is Haemorrhagic Septicaemia?

• Haemorrhagic septicaemia is a contagious bacterial disease which infects animals that come in contact with contaminated water or soil.
• It is caused by certain serotypes of Pasteurella multocida, a Gramnegative coccobacillus residing mostly as a commensal in the nasopharynx of animals.
• The disease generally spreads in the period right before and after the monsoons. It can affect cattle, buffalo and other animals. 
• Haemorrhagic septicaemia occurs in parts of Asia and Africa and is often fatal.
• It can be transmitted by ingesting contaminated food and water or through respiratory secretions.
• Hemorrhagic septicaemia is an important disease in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It has never been confirmed in Mexico, Central or South America.

Karlapat sanctuary Karlapat sanctuary is spread over an area of 175 square km in Odisha’s Kalahandi district. The sanctuary home to tigers, leopards, sambars, nilgais, barking deer, mouse deer and a wide variety of birds like green munia, great eared-nightjar and various reptiles, apart from elephants. The forest consists of flora like Sal, Bija, Asan, Harida, Amala, Bahada and Bamboo and varieties of medicinal plants. There are several small and big waterfalls inside the sanctuary like Phurlijharan, Ghusrigudi, Dumnijhola, Kamalajharan, Koyirupa, Kuang and Raja Rani.