Herpes Virus Identified as Cause of Elephant Deaths in Tamil Nadu Forest
Nearly three months after the tragic discovery of three elephant carcasses in the Pernampattu range of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, veterinarians have definitively confirmed that the deaths were caused by the herpes virus. This finding comes from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which analyzed bone marrow samples sent by forest officials from Vellore.
Details of the Elephant Deaths and Initial Discovery
On December 4, forest staff in Pernampattu range stumbled upon the remains of three elephants: a one-and-a-half-year-old male calf, a five-year-old female with intact tushes (small, brittle tusk-like teeth typical of female Asian elephants), and an eight-year-old male missing both tusks. A postmortem examination revealed no external injuries, ruling out foul play initially and pointing toward a natural cause.
Ivory Theft Uncovered and Arrests Made
Despite poaching being ruled out in the deaths, a separate criminal investigation unfolded when it was discovered that tusks had been stolen from one of the elephants. Authorities arrested three individuals: K Mani and J Chinnathambi from Pernampattu, and M Aruchami from Gudiyatham, for stealing a pair of tusks from the eight-year-old male elephant. A special team swiftly seized the stolen ivory when the suspects attempted to sell it.
Interrogation of these three led to the arrest of two more suspects: C Ellappa Golla and P Chandrababu from Chittoor district. Additionally, two other men, V Sivaraj and K Muniappa, are currently absconding, with efforts underway to locate them.
Recovery and Verification of Stolen Ivory
With assistance from the Chittoor forest division in Andhra Pradesh, the special team recovered the stolen tusks approximately 10 days ago. The ivory pieces measured 51 cm in length with a 15 cm mid-circumference. Forest veterinary assistant surgeon Manikandan verified their origin by fitting the pieces into the skull cavity of the dead eight-year-old tusker, confirming they belonged to that specific elephant.
Similar Incident and Broader Implications
This case echoes a previous incident in September 2023, when a 25-year-old tusker's carcass was found in the Mittalam South beat of Ambur range in Tirupattur forest division near the Andhra Pradesh border, also missing its tusks. Investigations into that case led to the arrest of three youths, who are now in judicial custody.
The recovered ivory from the recent theft has been safely deposited in the Vellore forest division for secure storage. This series of events highlights ongoing challenges in wildlife protection, combining health threats like the herpes virus with illegal activities such as ivory theft, underscoring the need for vigilant forest management and law enforcement in Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions.
