In a distressing incident for wildlife conservation, the decayed carcasses of three elephants were discovered in a private forest in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district. The grim find includes two adult elephants and a calf.
Discovery During Routine Patrol
Forest department staff made the discovery during a routine patrol in the Bhaimala private forest near Sinthakanava village, close to Pernampattu. The bodies were found near a water hole, indicating the animals might have been there before their deaths. The exact cause of death remains unknown and is the central focus of the ongoing investigation.
Interstate Significance and Investigation Team
The location of the incident holds significant ecological importance. The private forest lies close to the Kondapalli Reserved Forests in the Vellore division and is near the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. It is approximately 4-5 km from the interstate border, sitting within a known elephant movement corridor.
Given the gravity of the situation, State Chief Wildlife Warden R K Dogra announced the formation of a special investigation team. The team is led by the Chief Conservator of Forests for Villupuram, A Periasamy, and includes forest veterinary officer Sridhar from Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur.
Officials have also requested support from the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation for forensic sample collection to aid in the probe.
Joint Probe with Andhra Pradesh Authorities
Recognizing the site's proximity to the state boundary and the regular movement of elephant herds between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, authorities have sought cooperation from their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh. A joint investigation team from the Chittoor division is now collaborating with Tamil Nadu officials.
The Chittoor District Forest Officer confirmed that while the carcass location is about 10 km from the Andhra Pradesh border, it falls within Tamil Nadu's jurisdiction. Samples collected from the site will undergo detailed analysis to piece together the circumstances that led to the tragic deaths.
Forest officials emphasized that the findings from this investigation will be crucial. They will directly inform and guide future conservation and monitoring strategies in this critical elephant corridor, which is vital for the safe passage of pachyderms between the two states.
