According to the GPS radio collar data of the displaced elephant, it had moved a total distance of 17.50 km within a radius of two kilometers from November 12 to 26 in Manthirimattam forest area of Anamalai Tiger Reserve. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The forest department will send the body samples collected from the carcass of wild elephant ‘Rolex’, the wild elephant that was found dead in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) on Wednesday after it was shifted from Coimbatore village, to six different laboratories for various examinations.
Samples collected for disease screening, forensic toxicology and histopathology will be sent to the Central University Laboratory and Pharmacovigilance Laboratory of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University; the Indian Veterinary Research Institute at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh; Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation in Chennai; Kerala Forest Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Wayanad; and the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History in Coimbatore; and the Regional Forensic Laboratory in Chennai.
Department officials said there were no external injuries on the carcass of the elephant, which was found dead near Sirupulikan stream in Manambolly area of ATR around 2.30 pm on Wednesday.
An autopsy performed by a team of veterinarians showed that the pug may have been over 50 years old based on his molar progression.
Vets found about two liters of blood-stained pericardial effusion in his pericardial cavity. The heart appeared to be affected by chronic heart disease. They believed there were signs of bleeding in the heart.
Since viral infection can also cause these conditions, samples were taken for histopathological examinations, officials said.
The elephant was a habitual crop raider before it was caught by the union from Ichukkuzhi near Thondamuthur on October 17. It was housed in a kraal (wooden enclosure) at Varagaliar near Top Slip before being released into the wild at Manthirimattam in the Manabololly range on November 12.
A senior official attached to ATR said the elephant is suspected to have suffered a sudden heart failure while approaching the Sirupulikan Stream. The elephant tripped and fell down the slope to the stream. The animal also crashed into a tree before collapsing and dying, according to observations by a team that tracked the animal using signals from its radio collar.
Veterinarians have also found that elephant livers are harder than normal. The team also checked the piles of the elephant, which had a variety of food including grass, bushes, tree leaves, tree bark and bamboo.
An inquiry committee constituted by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra was present at the post-mortem. A team comprising Chairman H. Venuprasad, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife); members VC Rahul, Director, Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau; and K. Sridhar, Assistant Forest Veterinarian, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, inspected the spot where the dead elephant was found.
They noticed elephant foot tracks sliding about 25 meters along a low slope near a stream. The committee, which examined monitoring records, GPS radio collar data and the elephant’s treatment history, will submit a detailed report to the Chief Wildlife Warden.
Published – 27 Nov 2025 22:37 IST
