Elephant found dead, 3rd this year

RANCHI: A two-year-old elephant was found dead in Bhajna forest area of Palamu Tiger Reserve, forest department officials said on Thursday.

Officials said prima facie, the tusker died due to some its deep-seated infection, as the lower part of its stomach was wounded.

Trackers found its body near Mandal dam in Bhajna forest on Wednesday, Jharkhand chief wildlife warden Rajiv Ranjan said even as he ruled out any foul play.

The carcass has been sent for postmortem examination.

“The elephant had not even developed tusks as it was still young. Its lower part of the stomach was wounded. Prima facie, the probable cause of death appears to be deep-seated infection. But, exact details can be shared only after we receive the autopsy report,” said Ranjan.

This is the third elephant death this year in the state’s only tiger reserve spread over an area of 1,129 square kilometres in Latehar and parts of Garhwa districts. As per official estimates, the reserve has a population of more than 150 elephants.

Earlier, an elephant was found dead in the reserve on January 27 this year in Ramandaag forest of Garu West range of the reserve.

Around 10 days prior to it, a captive elephant was killed in an attack by wild tuskers in Betla National Park this January 18.

The elephant had not even developed tusks as it was still young. Its lower part of the stomach was wounded. Prima facie, the probable cause of death appears to be deep-seated infection

RAJIV RANJAN , chief wildlife warden