Elephant’s skeleton found in mining pit at Gudalur forest (Coimbatore)
The New Indian Express
October 10, 2021
See link
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/oct/10/elephants-skeleton-found-in-mining-pit-atgudalur-forest-2369916.html
for photo.
A team of staff from Gudalur forest division on Saturday stumbled upon a
skeleton of an elephant aged 10-12 years, with its tusks intact, at gold
mines near Pandalur in Nilgiris district. While patrolling in the area, the
team noticed the pair of tusks sticking out of slush in a suspected gold
mining pit. Upon taking a closer look, they found that it was attached to
the skeleton of an elephant.
According to sources, it is suspected that the jumbo fell into the pit
around six months ago when it was roaming in search of food and water.
However, the forest department staff could notice the skeleton only on
Saturday. To examine the skeleton, the forest division engaged David, a
private veterinarian, as government veterinarians are engaged in capturing
and tranquillising MDT 23, the elusive tiger, at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
(MTR).
“In his examination, the veterinarian found that there was no bullet injury
on the animal’s head and skeleton. We suspect that the elephant died around
six months ago after falling into the pit which is more than 20 metres
deeper. It could not be a case of poaching as the tusks are intact on the
skeleton. We have registered a case under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,
and further investigation is underway,” a forest department official said.
The concerned pit is located just a kilometre away from another pit at the
gold mines where a team of forest staff rescued a one-month-old female
elephant calf on October 5. The calf was then reunited with her mother.
These incidents show the frequent movement of wild elephants at gold mines.
Hence, the government has been urged to closed the alleged illegal mining
pits.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/oct/10/elephants-skeleton-found-in-mining-pit-atgudalur-forest-2369916.html
Elephant’s skeleton found in mining pit at Gudalur forest (Coimbatore)
The New Indian Express
October 10, 2021
See link
<https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/oct/10/elephants-skeleton-found-in-mining-pit-atgudalur-forest-2369916.html>
for photo.
A team of staff from Gudalur forest division on Saturday stumbled upon a
skeleton of an elephant aged 10-12 years, with its tusks intact, at gold
mines near Pandalur in Nilgiris district. While patrolling in the area, the
team noticed the pair of tusks sticking out of slush in a suspected gold
mining pit. Upon taking a closer look, they found that it was attached to
the skeleton of an elephant.
According to sources, it is suspected that the jumbo fell into the pit
around six months ago when it was roaming in search of food and water.
However, the forest department staff could notice the skeleton only on
Saturday. To examine the skeleton, the forest division engaged David, a
private veterinarian, as government veterinarians are engaged in capturing
and tranquillising MDT 23, the elusive tiger, at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
(MTR).
“In his examination, the veterinarian found that there was no bullet injury
on the animal’s head and skeleton. We suspect that the elephant died around
six months ago after falling into the pit which is more than 20 metres
deeper. It could not be a case of poaching as the tusks are intact on the
skeleton. We have registered a case under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,
and further investigation is underway,” a forest department official said.
The concerned pit is located just a kilometre away from another pit at the
gold mines where a team of forest staff rescued a one-month-old female
elephant calf on October 5. The calf was then reunited with her mother.
These incidents show the frequent movement of wild elephants at gold mines.
Hence, the government has been urged to closed the alleged illegal mining
pits.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/oct/10/elephants-skeleton-found-in-mining-pit-atgudalur-forest-2369916.html
