Two elephants found dead in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts

50-year-old elephant which was found dead in the Kalkere-Kandibetta forest area, in Mysuru District on Friday morning.

Two female elephants were found dead in separate incidents in the forest areas of Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts on Friday and Saturday.

In the first incident, a female elephant was found dead in the forest region of M.M. Hills in Chamarajanagar district on Saturday morning.

The dead elephant was found near Paalya village in the Kollegal Buffer Range of the M.M. Hills forest area. The elephant died due to electrocution after its trunk came into contact with an electric fence installed around a maize farm during the wee hours of Saturday.

The age of female elephant is estimated to be between 15-20 years.

According to forest official, the owner of the maize farm, Shivamallu, had allegedly drawn an illegal electricity connection from a borewell and installed an electric fence around the farm. The elephant reportedly suffered a fatal electric shock after coming into contact with the high-voltage fencing.

Following the incident, Shivamallu was arrested by the Paalya Rural Police. A case has been registered against him under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Electricity Act, official said.

In another incident, a 50-year-old female elephant was found dead in the Kalkere-Kandibetta forest area under the Hediyala Subdivision in Nanjangud taluk on Friday.

The incident came to light at around 11:47 a.m. , when Forest Department personnel and staff from the Wildlife Crime Prevention Camp visited the area for routine patrolling.

After noticing a foul smell, they began searching the area and eventually discovered the elephant’s carcass.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by veterinary doctors in the presence of forest officials. The elephant is suspected to have died following an attack by a male elephant.

Following the post-mortem examination, the carcass was kept in an open space within the forest area, according to a press note issued by the Hediyala Forest Subdivision.