Nuagaon: An elephant calf was found dead in Ranibagicha forest under Biramitrapur forest range under this block in Sundargarh district Thursday morning.
Local residents who went to the forest in the morning spotted the carcass. They immediately informed the forest department officials.
On reaching the spot, the forest department officials carried out an investigation. “Process for the autopsy is on and the carcass would be buried after the autopsy,” said Biramitrapur divisional forest officer RK Dash.
While the exact reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained, Dash suspects the calf might have suffered some internal injuries which later proved fatal. “A herd with four tuskers had been staying in Ranibagicha forest for a month. The calf was also in the herd. The elephants might have had fights and the calf might have become an unwanted victim,” Dash added.
PNN