Ailing wild elephant dies in Sirumugai forests near Coimbatore

A male wild elephant dies in Coimbatore forest despite week-long treatment, cause of death under investigation.

An ailing male wild elephant died in Sirumugai forest range of the Coimbatore Forest Division on Tuesday, without responding to treatment offered by the Forest Department’s veterinary team for a week.

The tusker, aged about 20, was found dead at Koothamandi area of Mothur Pethikuttai reserve forest around 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to the Forest Department, the elephant was found in an ailing condition near the forest boundary on April 22.

A veterinary team of the Department, headed by Forest Veterinary Officer A. Sukumar, monitored the elephant and provided essential drugs and supplements stuffed in fruits. Fodder was also provided to the animal.

Frontline staff of the Department were tracking and monitoring the animal as it moved inside the forest.

Officials with the Department said that the elephant did not have visible external injuries. Since the animal was weak, tranquillising the animal for treatment was not considered.

Samples from the carcass were collected during post-mortem for further examination to ascertain the cause of death.