MYSURU, 31 AUG

A third elephant carcass was discovered by Forest Department officials at the Bylur range in the BRT Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar district, on Saturday. This follows the discovery of two other elephant carcasses earlier in the week.

The first two carcasses were found on 27 August in the Bylur and Yelandur ranges of the reserve. The first elephant, a male estimated to be around 40 years old, was found near Bethalakatte in the Yelandur range during routine patrolling by department officials. It is believed to have died about 20 days ago.

The second elephant, also found on 27 August, was located in the Aladakere forest area of the Bylur range. This male elephant, estimated to be around 57 years old, had been dead for about eight months; its tusks were still intact.

The third carcass, found on Saturday in the Bylur range, is another male elephant that likely died around 20 days ago.

Authorities are waiting for a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine if the elephants died naturally, from contagious diseases, or due to poisoning, said Sripathy, BRT Tiger Reserve Project Director and Deputy Conservator of Forest.

Along with Sripathy, T Heeralal, Conservator of Forest, Chamarajanagar circle; Suresh K, ACF; and other officials visited the spot.

Department Veterinarian Wasim Mirza conducted the postmortem on the three carcasses and officials have collected all the six tusks of the three jumbos which were found on the spot. –Salar News