Elephant calf found dead in TN’s Tirunelveli district

MADURAI: A 10-year-old female elephant calf that was ill and spotted roaming near Manimuthar dam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in the last few days was found dead at South Pappankulam on Wednesday.
Forest department personnel attached to the Ambasamudram division of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) had been tracking the elephant calf for the past few days.
Realising that the animal was weak, they placed food stuffed with medicines on the elephant’s paths.Forest department personnel said the elephant could not walk fast and could not take food and water.
A team led by the deputy director of the Ambasamudram division of KMTR Kommu Omkaram conducted preliminary investigations on the cause of the death. Forest veterinarian Manoharan conducted an autopsy. The autopsy revealed that the elephant calf had infections in the mouth and in the digestive system. Undigested palm fruits were also found in the intestine.
Department officials said vital samples would be sent for laboratory tests to ascertain the cause of death. The carcass was buried.