Skeletal remains of juvenile elephant found in forest near Coimbatore

Officials believe the animal, believed to be five or six years old, died about three months ago; its bones and skull, with tusks intact, were found in Rathapparai in the Boluvampatti Block III reserve forest on Monday; the cause of death could not be ascertained due to decomposition of the carcass

The remains were found in the Boluvampatti forest range in Coimbatore Forest Division on Monday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The skeletal remains of a male juvenile elephant, were found scattered near a stream in the Boluvampatti forest range of the Coimbatore Forest Division on Monday. 

Forest Department staff spotted the skeletal remains at Rathapparai in the Devarayapuram beat of the Boluvampatti Block III reserve forest, during a patrol on Monday evening. Forest Veterinary Officer A. Sukumar conducted the post-mortem examination of the remains on Tuesday. 

Dr. Sukumar said that the elephant, aged around five to six, could have died three months ago. Bones and the skull of the elephant were found scattered at the site. The tusks of the elephant were intact. 

The veterinarian could not ascertain the cause the death of the elephant, due to the complete decomposition of the carcass.