Sonepur: Officials of Sonepur forest division recovered the decomposed carcass of a wild boar from Arjunpur reserve forest on Wednesday.

Local residents here questioned the competency of the forest department as the animal was lying dead only a few metres by the side of NH-57 about 5 km from Sonepur, yet the forest department had no information it for three days.

After the foul smell started emanating from the decomposed carcass, the villagers near the reserve forest informed the forest department.

Assistant conservator of Sonepur forest, Sushil Kumar Tripathy, said action would be taken against the negligent staff members who were employed to look after the safety of wild animals in the reserve forest. "This is irresponsibility on the part of forest staff members. The safety of animals is at risk in the hands of such negligent staff members," he said.