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Chennai, Oct 29 (IANS) A wild elephant was found dead after reportedly falling into an unmaintained elephant-proof trench (EPT) along the Odanthurai forest range near Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district, raising fresh concerns about the safety and maintenance of such barriers in human-elephant conflict zones.
According to forest officials, the body was spotted around 11.30 pm on Tuesday near a private grove owned by Thirumalairaj, who immediately alerted the authorities.
A team led by Mettupalayam Forest Range Officer Sasi reached the spot and conducted a preliminary investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the tusker may have slipped into a poorly maintained ditch while attempting to enter the farm in search of food and water. The animal was found in a sternal recumbency position, suggesting that it had struggled to get up before dying, possibly due to internal injuries or exhaustion.
District Forest Officer (DFO) N. Jayaraj said the Coimbatore forest veterinarian from the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), along with a veterinarian from the animal husbandry department, will conduct a detailed postmortem examination. To avoid dishonesty, the examination will be held in the presence of an officer of Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (TNWCCB).
This is the 13th elephant death recorded this year in seven forest ranges under the Coimbatore forest division, forest department sources said. Causes of death range from disease and natural factors to accidental injuries and electric shock. A senior forest official clarified that while most of the recent deaths were due to natural causes, the last death at Kuppepalayam near Thondamuthur on October 23 was the result of electric shock – a case in which the elephant came in contact with electrical wires.
However, wildlife activists expressed concern over the increasing number of elephant deaths in the division compared to last year, when only eight were reported. He has urged the forest department to immediately repair and maintain the EPT and ensure adequate water sources inside the forest areas to prevent elephants from moving into human settlements. This tragic incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for constant monitoring and maintenance of elephant-proof trenches, which are intended to protect both humans and wildlife, but can be fatal if neglected.
–IANS
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