The peaceful Mordhana Extension Reserve Forest, nestled near Aravatla village in Vellore along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border, recently became the scene of a somber discovery: the remains of a 10-year-old female elephant.
During their routine patrols, a dedicated forest team stumbled upon the grim find, including the skeleton and hide of the magnificent animal, tragically close to a forest stream. This distressing discovery was promptly reported to S. Raghupathy, the Pernambut Forest Range Officer, and B. Ashok Kumar, the District Forest Officer for Vellore, setting in motion an urgent investigation.
The Aravatla region, a hilly expanse bordering the Mordhana dam, plays a crucial role in wildlife movement. It’s approximately three kilometers from Andhra Pradesh’s Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, serving as a vital elephant corridor. Elephants from the sanctuary frequently traverse these forests, often continuing their journey to neighboring Karnataka. During the sweet mango season, these gentle giants are known to camp in the area before making their way back to the sanctuary.
Following the alert, a specialized team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Jayachandran from Hosur, arrived to conduct a postmortem examination. Initial findings suggest the elephant may have suffered an injury after slipping from an elevated area into a nearby stream while likely searching for water. Officials estimate the elephant had been deceased for at least one and a half months prior to its discovery. Samples from the remains have been collected for further forensic analysis, and the carcass was respectfully cremated on-site under the supervision of senior forest personnel. A thorough probe is currently underway to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.