The shocking series of elephant deaths in the Western parts of Tamil Nadu is continuing, with an animal injured after being hit by a bus dying on Wednesday noon. This is the sixth death in just 15 days.
The elephant had suffered fractures and severe internal injuries after being hit by a government bus near Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district in the early hours Monday. It was taken to Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Nilgiris district for treatment, where it died on Wednesday following internal injuries and cardiac arrest.
“We provided medicines and physiotherapy treatment to improve its health but it did not respond to the treatment. The elephant died around noon on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest,” E Vijayaragavan, one of the veterinary doctors taking care of the elephant, told Express.
The animal was trying to cross the Krishnagiri-Hosur highway when the accident happened. It was taken to the camp in Mudumalai, but the elephant was unable to have food and water, doctors said
The team of veterinarian are performing a post-mortem examination.
There were a string of incidents in the past few weeks that claimed the lives of elephants – one died after being electrocuted, another hit by train, one after being tranquilised, one suspected to be after health complications, one suspected case of poaching and now this.
Since June 20, five other elephants, two females and three males, have died in Coimbatore district.
* June 20: A 35-year-old female elephant was killed in a train accident at Marappalam, near Madukkarai.
* June 22: A 20-year-old lone tusker ‘Madukkarai Maharaj’ died in a kraal where it had been kept after being tranquillised and captured.
* June 25: A 30-year-old tusker found dead. It is suspected to have died due to bullet injuries.
* July 3: A 25-year-old male elephant found dead due to parasitic infection in the Bhavanisagar dam backwater area.