Injured female elephant dies

An injured female elephant that was found camping at the Beetekatte lake near Malaganakeri Haadi of the taluk on Wednesday, died on Thursday.

According to veterinarians, the elephant aged around 30 years might have died due to lung infection. However, the exact cause of death can be ascertained only after receiving the post mortem report, said Dr Umashankar.

The Forest department officials suspect that the animal had sustained a bullet injury on its left leg. But, no metal objects or bullet was found inside the body. The carcass was burnt after autopsy. Range Forest Officer Girish told DH that the department had readied itself to rescue the elephant from the lake and had summoned Dasara elephants Krishna and Bheema for the operation.

Though the elephant had been camping in the lake since three days, the Forest department personnel failed to take measures to rescue it, locals said. Taluk Panchayat Member S Ramu said the elephant had died of wounds and not due to lung infection. The animal would have been saved if the Forest department staff was alert. He demanded a thorough investigation into the elephant’s death.