Radio-collared elephant found dead in Kerala forest

The makhna elephant, which was put back into the forest with a radio collar attached after entering human settlement in Kothamangalam area of ​​Ernakulam district, was found dead on Saturday morning. Following the movement of the elephant, the team found the pachyderm lying motionless in the forest.

Malayattoor District Forest Officer (DFO) Karthik P. said, “We do not know the cause of death yet. We have been observing the movements of the elephant since it was released into the forest. The elephant was seen staying around the forest. When the team went to track the animal, they found it motionless.” He added that an autopsy would be performed.

The Makhna elephant (a tuskless bull elephant) had gone to residential areas in Kottapady and Pindimana grama panchayats in Kothamangalam. While the animal’s entry into human settlement caused fear and panic in citizens, an effort was initiated to calm the animal and release it to nature. According to sources in the forest department, the elephant was eventually released into the Vettampara forest after being fitted with a radio collar.