A tusker was found dead on Saturday in the Betnasia forest under the Rasgobindpur Range of the Baripada Forest Division, prompting an investigation by forest officials.

According to the Baripada Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), preliminary findings indicate that the elephant likely toi have died following a clash with another tusker.

Reports suggest that a herd of around 25 elephants had recently entered the Rasgobindpur Range from Jharkhand. One elephant from the group was later discovered dead, and officials suspect the death resulted from an intra-species fight within the herd.

The Baripada DFO has visited the spot and initiated a detailed inquiry. A specialised veterinary team from Bhubaneswar is expected to reach the site to conduct a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, the Forest Department stated.

Field reports estimate the deceased tusker to be approximately 12 years old.

Post Mortem to Specify Cause of Death

A joint task force was reportedly scheduled to visit the location at the time of reporting to supervise the post-mortem and review the circumstances surrounding the death. Officials stated that the post-mortem procedure will be carried out as per established protocol.

Authorities also noted that the investigation will examine whether the death was solely due to a fight or if any infection may have been a contributing factor, particularly as animals often contract diseases during winter months.

Forest personnel have been closely monitoring the movement of the herd to ensure control and safety. The Forest Department stated that measures are being taken to prevent the elephants from straying into human settlements and to avoid potential damage or conflict.

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Further action will be decided based on the findings of the post-mortem and the ongoing investigation.