The carcass of a wild baby elephant, which was likely stampeded to dead by bigger members of its herd in Dak Lak province. Photo: Nguyen Binh
Locals in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on Tuesday discovered the dead body of a baby elephant in a forest near their farms.
The animal, weighing 100 kilograms, was found dead with a large loss of skin and damaged toes.
Initial investigation has shown that the baby elephant must have died while moving with its herd and being stomped on to death by other bigger members.
Locals said they had witnessed a herd of around 30 elephants flocking out from the forest, searching for food in recent days.
No one dared to go near the area, they said, explaining that the elephants seemed to be in a hurry.
Earlier on Monday noon, a forestry officer in the southern province of Dong Nai discovered the body of an 80-kilogram elephant in a pond.
Authorities later said that the elephant, approximately one year old, must have drowned on Sunday night while looking for food.