Seven elephants die in 25 days in Nilgiris district

Seven elephants, including four males and three females, have died in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Masinagudi Forest Division over the past 25 days, raising concern among wildlife conservationists.
The latest incident was reported in the Thengumarahada forest area under the Nilgiris East Slope Forest Range. During a routine patrol, forest personnel found a male elephant dead near the Anaimoolai area and alerted senior officials.
Following instructions from Masinagudi Deputy Director Vidhyadhar, a post-mortem examination was conducted by Theppakadu forest veterinarian Rajesh Kumar in the presence of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officials and volunteers.
The elephant was estimated to be around 22 years old. However, officials could not immediately establish the cause of death as its internal organs were found damaged. Samples were collected for further examination, and the exact cause will be known after the post-mortem report.
The other six deaths included a male calf on the 17th of last month, a male elephant in the Singara Forest Range on the 18th, and an aged male elephant in the Masinagudi Forest Range on the 24th. A female elephant, estimated to be 55 years old, died after being caught in floods on the 27th. Two more female elephants died in the Singara Forest Range on the 3rd and 4th of this month, one of them estimated to be 25 years old.
Wildlife enthusiasts have expressed concern over the deaths. Environmental activists said the reported causes included complications during childbirth, old age and being caught in floods. They urged the Forest Department to give greater priority to elephant protection and conservation.