How Did Two Wild Elephants Die in Coimbatore District?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two wild elephants died in Coimbatore district in separate incidents.
- A male tusker was electrocuted due to a fallen electric post.
- A female elephant succumbed to illness within the Pollachi range.
- Investigations will focus on electrical safety measures in forest areas.
- Authorities emphasize the need for improved wildlife protection.
Coimbatore, Oct 23 (NationPress) In a distressing turn of events, two wild elephants have tragically died in Coimbatore district within a single day. Officials from the Forest Department confirmed the passing of a male tusker near Thondamuthur and a female elephant in the Pollachi range on Thursday.
The initial incident involved a 25-year-old male elephant who was electrocuted early Thursday morning in Kuppepalayam village, close to Thondamuthur. According to sources from the Forest Department, the tusker met its fate after it toppled an electric post, which led to a live power line falling onto it. The carcass was discovered in an agricultural field adjacent to a public road around 5 a.m. The farmland owner spotted the elephant and quickly notified the forest personnel from the Boluvampatti range.
Upon investigation, officials found that the recently installed electric post had collapsed into the field, pinning one of the live cables beneath the elephant’s body. The site of the incident is approximately 500 meters from the Boluvampatti Block II reserve forest within the Coimbatore Forest Division. Senior officials, including the District Forest Officer, arrived shortly after receiving the report.
To ensure safety, the electricity supply in the area was halted, and preparations were made to conduct a post-mortem examination on the carcass. Preliminary findings suggested that the elephant's death was instantaneous due to electrocution.
In a separate unfortunate occurrence, a female elephant, estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, died within the Pollachi range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve on Wednesday. Field staff conducting routine patrols in the Oomandi forest area of the Paruthiyur beat discovered the elephant in a frail and weakened state early in the morning. Despite the quick response from veterinary teams from the Forest Department, efforts to revive the elephant were unsuccessful, and it passed away around 1:30 p.m.
A post-mortem was conducted later that evening, with veterinarians concluding that the cause of death was likely illness, rather than any external injuries. Forest officials indicated that both deaths would undergo thorough investigations, especially the electrocution incident near Thondamuthur, to check for any shortcomings in electrical safety protocols near the forest boundaries.