Angul: A 25-year-old tusker was found dead in Badagunduri forest under Khamar range in Angul on Friday.
On being informed, the Forest Department officials reached the spot and started investigation.
The exact reason behind the death of the pachyderm is yet to be ascertained. However, it is being suspected that the animal died due to excessive bleeding after poachers cut off the tusks.
“Efforts are on to nab the poachers,” said DFO (Debagad) Kartka Samanta.
In a similar incident, a four-year-old tusker was found dead in Sol forest range under Bonai forest division of Sundargarh district on October 20.
According to sources, locals spotted the carcass of the tusker in the Kunjur reserve forest where they had gone to collect firewood.
On October 11, carcass of an elephant was found with its tusks missing at Dejuan under Lakhanpur forest range in Bargarh district.
The matter came to light when some locals spotted the carcass and alerted the forest department officials.
