Ailing wild elephant dies in the Nilgiris

According to the Forest Department, the elephant, aged around 35, ventured out of the forest on Saturday night and wandered around in a village in Pandalur triggering panic among the locals.

The elephant was sick for the past few days and was under observation by the Forest Department.

On Sunday morning, the jumbo tried to enter a house apparently in search of food and water. Suddenly, it collapsed on the compound wall and was then unable to stand.

On receiving information, a team of Forest Department personnel led by C Manoharan, Forest Range Officer (incharge), Cherambadi Range, rushed to the spot and found the animal alive, but battling for life in a critical condition.

As there was a heavy crowd of villagers, the Forest Department decided to treat the animal by shifting it to an isolated area in the jungle.

“The elephant was lifted using a crane and transported in a lorry to the dense forest cover for treatment. 

The ailing jumbo was then treated by forest veterinarian KP Prabhu,” said an official. The elephant was unable to consume food for several days as it had a critical wound in its mouth and was

 also suffering from lung infection.

Despite efforts to revive it, the animal died. An autopsy was conducted and the exact reason for its death would be ascertained based on the report.

A sub-adult elephant was found dead in the reserve forests near Narasipuram in the outskirts on Sunday. Field staff of the Forest Department, who were on patrol, found the carcass of the animal lying close to an elephant-proof trench in the neighbourhood. An examination by the Forest Department revealed that the elephant had an injury in its mouth. “The jumbo could have sustained the injury by biting a country bomb placed by poachers to kill wild boar,” said a Forest Department staff. Villagers had also seen the jumbo wandering around with an injury in its mouth. The Forest Department staff, who found the elephant alone a few days ago had helped it join a herd. But the jumbo got separated and was found dead on Sunday.