Male Elephant found dead by roadside near Keeriparai

A wild male elephant was found dead after suddenly collapsing by the roadside near Keeriparai in Kanyakumari district. Forest department officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
Wild elephants have frequently been entering residential areas and private plantations near the forest fringes in the hill villages of Kanyakumari district, damaging houses, shops and crops.
On Wednesday morning, a male elephant was walking along a road near a private plantation at Karumpaarai when it suddenly collapsed and died. Local residents informed the Alagiyapandiyapuram Forest Range Office.
Forest personnel led by Forest Ranger Sridhar reached the spot and examined the elephant. Veterinary doctors who arrived from Tirunelveli subsequently examined the carcass and reported injuries on its body and a wound in its mouth.
A post-mortem examination was conducted at the spot, following which the carcass was buried in a deep pit using a earth movers machine.
District Forest Officer Anbu said injuries had been found on the elephant’s body during the post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death would be known only after the post-mortem report is received, following which further investigation would be conducted.