Pregnant elephant found dead in Moyar reserve forest in Mudumalai

The female wild elephant that was found dead within the limits of the Masinagudi Forest Division of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) on Wednesday (November 4) could have died of pregnancy-related complications, according to the Forest Department.The elephant, aged around 25, was found dead during a routine patrol by the field staff at Kuthiraiparai in the Moyar reserve forest area in the Masinagudi range around 3.45 p.m. on Wednesday.K. Rajesh Kumar, veterinary assistant surgeon at the Theppakadu elephant camp, performed a post-mortem examination on the carcass on Thursday. It was found that the deceased elephant was carrying a fully grown foetus, nearing delivery stage. He opined that the elephant could have died at least two days before the staff spotted the carcass.Samples of vital organs were collected from the carcass to be sent to Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation at Vandalur in Chennai for laboratory examinations. The carcass was left in the wild for scavengers after the post-mortem examination.Second elephant death in two days in MasinagudiAnother female elephant was found dead in Singara estate stream area within the Singara forest range of the Masinagudi Division on Tuesday (November 3). The post-mortem examination on the carcass was held on Wednesday. Published - November 05, 2026 06:44 pm IST