Illegal electric fence in farm land kills wild tusker near Mettupalayam

Farmers noticed the elephant lying dead and informed the Forest Department officers in Sirumugai, who then rushed to the spot. A preliminary examination revealed that the elephant had died of electrocution.

“The farm owner had raised an illegal electric fence with high volt battery to prevent wild elephants from raiding the plantain crops. On Tuesday night, the elephant tried to enter the farm when it suffered an electric shock and died on the spot,” said a Forest Department officer.

On receiving information, the officials from Tamil Nadu Electricity Board also arrived and confirmed that the elephant was electrocuted due to high voltage current in the fence. The incident occurred in the catchment area of Bhavani Sagar Dam, where the land belonging to the Public Works Department has been leased out to individuals for farming.

A case is likely to be registered against the farm owner and further action would be initiated after the post-mortem examination report, said sources.