The 25-year-old wild elephant that was tranquillised and operated upon for the abscess on its left foreleg on Monday near Kondanur in Anaikatti, was found dead in the same area on Tuesday morning.
The male elephant was first sighted on Friday near Kondanur by the villagers and they alerted the Forest Department.
The Forest Department began the monitoring the animal and moved it to a convenient and safer location.
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On Monday, the elephant braved the first two rounds of sedation and stood on its ground challenging the veterinary team comprising N.S. Manoharan, K. Asokan and M. Jayabharathi.
However, after injecting antibiotics, the veterinarians supported by Kumar, a mahout from Chadivayal elephant camp, daringly approached the elephant. After clearing the puss and dead tissues, the cavity of the abscess was stuffed with medicines.
The animal responded to the treatment and started moving back into the forest. The department had deputed anti-depredating squad watchers to monitor the movement of the animal.
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The operation remained marathon and officials first drove the elephant to a plain area away from a tricky terrain and thickets and placed an earth mover to prevent its movement downward and the recently formed Rapid Response Team was in action in addition to the kumki elephants Pari and Sujai.
However, the animal was found dead in same area on Tuesday morning, officials said.
Autopsy was conducted on the carcass and the tusks were removed and handed over to the Periyanaickenpalayam Range forest team. After taking samples for laboratory analysis, the carcass was buried.
Clinical examination of the carcass revealed that huge quantum of puss on its left foreleg led to septicaemic condition, drastically reducing the food intake and rendering the animal feeble and anaemic.
Cow elephant
found dead
A cow elephant was found dead in Dasaripalli village in Jawalagiri forest range in Krishnagiri on late Monday evening.
Forest Department sources said that the residents of the village spotted the carcass in the reserve forests and informed the forest officials on Tuesday morning.
A team of forest personnel led by Deepak S. Bilgi, District Forest Officer, Hosur, visited the spot. Sources said that the elephant had consumed lot of ragi raised in the fields abutting the reserve forests and died due to intestinal impaction. A veterinary surgeon conducted an autopsy and the carcass was buried in the reserve forests, the sources added.