Cuttack: The carcass of a female elephant calf was found floating in a pond in Chhanchunia village under Badamba forest range in Cuttack district on Tuesday.
Locals spotted the body of the elephant and immediately informed the forest officials. Soon after, the forest personnel rushed to the spot and fished out the dead calf from the pond.
"The villagers informed us about the calf and it appears that the animal accidently slipped into the pond. However an investigation into the case is on for more details. Body of the calf has been sent for autopsy following which it will be buried," informed Gobind Chandra Rath, Badamba Range Officer.
The post-mortem reports that reached later in the day revealed that the calf was around six-months-old and died due to drowning.
In a separate incident, a youth was trampled to death by an elephant at Pithabata range near Nayapurushottampur village in Baripada this morning. The incident took place when the youth had gone to the forest to pick firewood.