Athagarh: A decomposed carcass of an elephant was found at Ranibania reserve forest under Khutnuni range in Athagarh forest division in the Cuttack district.
Though exact cause of the death has not yet been ascertained, forest department suspect viral infection behind the death of the animal.
"The carcass was found in Khuntuni range. It was a female elephant. Any viral infection might cause its death," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Gopinath Sudarshan Yadav said.
The age of the jumbo was about 45 years. It died around 8-10 days ago, he added.
The forest department has buried the decomposed body.
In November last year, carcass of a tusker was recovered from Ghumaghasua hill forest under the Khuntuni range in Cuttack.