Wild Male Elephant Electrocuted near Mettupalayam

A 20-year-old male wild elephant died after becoming entangled in an electric fence adjacent to the Odanthurai Reserve Forest in the Mettupalayam area.
The animal had ventured out from the forest and attempted to cross a trench that the Tamil Nadu Forest Department had dug along farmland owned by Mr Thirumalairaj, situated on land next to the reserve. Officials say the elephant’s legs became trapped in the trench, immobilising
it.
While struggling to free itself, the elephant came into contact with a live electric fence installed around the garden adjoining the land. The animal was later found dead, with the electric wires wrapped around its mouth.
Alerted by the landowner, forest department officials rushed to the scene. Senior officers were summoned to oversee the investigation and a post-mortem examination has been scheduled to ascertain the exact cause of death.