An adult female elephant died in the Chandaka forest on Friday night despite hours of medical intervention by a team of nine veterinarians. The animal reportedly collapsed in a severely weakened state around 9 pm and remained unable to stand even as treatment efforts continued.

According to preliminary information, the exact cause of the illness is yet to be confirmed. However, Forest Department officials suspect the elephant may have succumbed to a fatal herpes infection, pending detailed examination.

Chandaka DFO stated that the elephant was estimated to be 20–22 years old.

Elephant Spotted in Distress

Local residents reported seeing the elephant wandering in an ailing condition for the past two days in the Barabari forest area under Daruthenga–Bhuasuni Mouza. They subsequently informed the Chandaka Forest Division.

Following the alert, a five-member veterinary team from Nandankanan and another four-member team from OUAT reached the location and administered treatment. Despite continuous emergency efforts, the elephant could not be revived.

Post-Mortem Examination Today

As per reports, the body of the elephant will be sent for post-mortem on Saturday to establish the precise cause of death. However, the primary investigation suggests that the animal may have been suffering from herpesvirus, which reportedly leads to a rapid decline in health and can result in sudden death.

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Officials noted that the herpesvirus not only affects elephants but can also infect cattle and other animals. It is also reported that cases of infection tend to increase during winter, when animals are more vulnerable to the virus.