2 hours ago
1
The post-mortem introspection of ‘Chillikomban’, a chaotic tusker affectionately called the ‘guardian of Nelliyampathy’ by quality enthusiasts, revealed that it had suffered terrible injuries from an onslaught by different antheral elephant before it died aft being washed distant successful the contour canal of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) successful Coimbatore territory connected Saturday (May 23, 2026).
According to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, 2 ample wounds, 1 beneath the abdomen and 1 nether the tail, were recovered connected the carcass. Several insignificant injuries were besides observed crossed the body. The 2 large wounds had penetrated astir 15 centimeters heavy into the body. Maggots were recovered infesting these wounds.
“Based connected these observations, it is evident that these injuries were sustained during a combat with different elephant,” said a summary of autopsy findings.
The post-mortem introspection performed by a squad of 3 veterinarians besides revealed that the elephant had not consumed immoderate nutrient 3 to 4 days earlier its death. No nutrient particles were recovered successful the tusker’s tummy during the post-mortem. The veterinarians opined that the elephant could person attempted to participate the canal owed to these injuries.
“Being successful a severely debilitated authorities owed to some starvation and large injuries, the elephant entered the PAP canal and was swept distant by the beardown current. Due to its utmost exhaustion, the elephant was incapable to ascent retired of the h2o and yet drowned,” said the summary of observations made by the veterinarians.
The tusker, which utilized to traverse from Nelliyampathy to the contiguous regions of the Tamil Nadu broadside similar Navamalai and Aliyar each year, got trapped successful the contour canal, which cuts done reserve wood areas of the Pollachi scope of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), astir 4 p.m. connected Saturday.
Rescue attempts failed and the elephant was recovered dormant wrong the canal astir 6.40 p.m. The carcass reached Thirumoorthy Dam, into which the 49.3-km canal drains, wrong the jurisdiction of Udumalpet scope of ATR, aboriginal connected Sunday (May 24).
