PREGNANT ELEPHANT FOUND DEAD
A pregnant elephant and tusker were found killed in what seemed
to have been a fiery battle within the herd in the reserve forests near the
Palar-Porundhalar dam on Saturday, forest officials said. The carcass of a
six-year-old male elephant was found near Kallar Odai, a forest stream, and
15-year-old pregnant female elephant 300 feet away.The male had grievous
injuries on the chest and deep wounds on the back. There were also bruises and
cuts on its trunk and near the chin. A dead foetus was sticking out of the
female’s stomach, suggesting that it was in a very advanced stage of pregnancy.
Palani Forest Ranger P. Ganesan said the male elephant could
have died in a stiff battle with its counterpart.Fights among male elephants
are common during mating season. But, the official could not give any reason
for the death of the female elephant. Even complications in delivery might be
the reason, they suggested.Local people said no one could go near the carcasses
as wild elephants often visited the spot and guarded them.
Prof. John Kurakar
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