BHOPAL: While investigating the mysterious deaths of 10 elephants within 72 hours in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh forest department officials have come across a 90-year-old report detailing the deaths of 14 elephants in Vannathiparai Reserve Forest , Tamil Nadu.
The report, dated May 22, 1934, by R.C. Morris, F.Z.S. (Fellow of the Zoological Society), attributes the deaths of these elephants to the consumption of Kodo millet, locally known as 'Varagu.' Alarmingly, the same millet is now being linked to the recent elephant fatalities in Bandhavgarh.
Morris's report indicates that ripe 'Varagu' can occasionally become poisonous, despite its appearance suggesting otherwise. He noted, “It is reported that knowledge of its safety for consumption is typically gained by either cooking and tasting a small quantity or observing the condition of cattle during the threshing season. The antidote for this poison is believed to be tamarind water or buttermilk in large quantities.”
This report has been found in the archives of the biodiversity heritage library (BHL), the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.
Morris’s research often focused on the ecological impacts of human activities and the interactions between wildlife and agricultural practices. In his detailed account titled “Death of 14 Elephants (Elephas Maximus Linn.) Due to Food Poisoning,” he expressed gratitude to Mr. A. Wimbush, the then Chief Conservator of Forests, Madras, for the information regarding the elephant deaths.
He recounted that on December 17, 1933, villagers discovered 11 elephants lying in the patta fields and 3 in the adjoining Reserve. By 3 p.m. that afternoon, all the elephants in the fields had perished, while the three in the Reserved Forest were in poor condition and died later. The Veterinary Surgeon of Periyakulam conducted post-mortems on two elephants, with their viscera sent for chemical analysis.
“Results from the chemical examination confirmed that the elephants died from Kodo millet poisoning . It was noted that a similar incident involving elephants being poisoned by 'Varagu' had occurred several years earlier in the same area. When this grain is in a poisonous state, it is referred to as 'Kiruku Varagu,'” Morris added.
He also reported that for the three elephants found in the Reserve Forest, villagers supplied water and tamarind fruit, allegedly saving the life of one elephant, though this claim remains unverified. The millet, referred to as 'Varagu' by Morris, is scientifically known as Kodra (Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.), recognized for its occasional toxic properties affecting both humans and animals.
Morris noted, "The grain and straw of Kodra frequently, if not always, contain a narcotic principle that induces vomiting and vertigo. Consequently, in the Konkan region, precautions are taken to prevent cattle from straying into Kodra fields." This toxic principle arises under unfavorable climatic and seasonal conditions, with the grain being poisonous only at certain times of the year. It is suggested that the narcotic property can be neutralized by steeping in cow dung and water or by storing the grain for several years.
“While ordinary people cannot usually distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous grain, cultivators in Gujarat claim that diseased grain can be detected during threshing, as the effects of the toxic dust are felt by both the threshing bullocks and their handlers,” Morris wrote. He further highlighted that symptoms of poisoning resemble those caused by Datura and are more severe in cattle than in humans, likely due to the ingestion of both grain and husk without the benefit of vomiting.
This historical report is currently circulating among IFS officers facing scrutiny over the recent elephant deaths. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has been calling for a CBI inquiry into the matter, accusing some officials of a delayed response.
The report, dated May 22, 1934, by R.C. Morris, F.Z.S. (Fellow of the Zoological Society), attributes the deaths of these elephants to the consumption of Kodo millet, locally known as 'Varagu.' Alarmingly, the same millet is now being linked to the recent elephant fatalities in Bandhavgarh.
Morris's report indicates that ripe 'Varagu' can occasionally become poisonous, despite its appearance suggesting otherwise. He noted, “It is reported that knowledge of its safety for consumption is typically gained by either cooking and tasting a small quantity or observing the condition of cattle during the threshing season. The antidote for this poison is believed to be tamarind water or buttermilk in large quantities.”
This report has been found in the archives of the biodiversity heritage library (BHL), the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.
Morris’s research often focused on the ecological impacts of human activities and the interactions between wildlife and agricultural practices. In his detailed account titled “Death of 14 Elephants (Elephas Maximus Linn.) Due to Food Poisoning,” he expressed gratitude to Mr. A. Wimbush, the then Chief Conservator of Forests, Madras, for the information regarding the elephant deaths.
He recounted that on December 17, 1933, villagers discovered 11 elephants lying in the patta fields and 3 in the adjoining Reserve. By 3 p.m. that afternoon, all the elephants in the fields had perished, while the three in the Reserved Forest were in poor condition and died later. The Veterinary Surgeon of Periyakulam conducted post-mortems on two elephants, with their viscera sent for chemical analysis.
“Results from the chemical examination confirmed that the elephants died from Kodo millet poisoning . It was noted that a similar incident involving elephants being poisoned by 'Varagu' had occurred several years earlier in the same area. When this grain is in a poisonous state, it is referred to as 'Kiruku Varagu,'” Morris added.
He also reported that for the three elephants found in the Reserve Forest, villagers supplied water and tamarind fruit, allegedly saving the life of one elephant, though this claim remains unverified. The millet, referred to as 'Varagu' by Morris, is scientifically known as Kodra (Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.), recognized for its occasional toxic properties affecting both humans and animals.
Morris noted, "The grain and straw of Kodra frequently, if not always, contain a narcotic principle that induces vomiting and vertigo. Consequently, in the Konkan region, precautions are taken to prevent cattle from straying into Kodra fields." This toxic principle arises under unfavorable climatic and seasonal conditions, with the grain being poisonous only at certain times of the year. It is suggested that the narcotic property can be neutralized by steeping in cow dung and water or by storing the grain for several years.
“While ordinary people cannot usually distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous grain, cultivators in Gujarat claim that diseased grain can be detected during threshing, as the effects of the toxic dust are felt by both the threshing bullocks and their handlers,” Morris wrote. He further highlighted that symptoms of poisoning resemble those caused by Datura and are more severe in cattle than in humans, likely due to the ingestion of both grain and husk without the benefit of vomiting.
This historical report is currently circulating among IFS officers facing scrutiny over the recent elephant deaths. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has been calling for a CBI inquiry into the matter, accusing some officials of a delayed response.
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