Forest officials discovered the dismembered skeleton of a five-year-old female elephant calf inside Paichhalia Reserve Forest under the Gayaganda section of North Ghumusar Forest Division in Ganjam district.
The remains, believed to be around two months old, added to a troubling series of elephant deaths in the same range.
Wildlife experts examined the skeleton along with skin fragments. Authorities collected bones, skin, and teeth samples and sent them to the OUAT laboratory in Bhubaneswar for further analysis. Officials confirmed that the exact cause of death remains unknown due to the age of the carcass.
North Ghumusar DFO Himanshu Sekhar Mohanty and Tarasingi Ranger Prashant Behera visited the site and initiated a detailed investigation. This marks the third elephant death in the Gayaganda range within three months, intensifying concerns among environmentalists and local residents.
On May 10, an 11-year-old male elephant died from illness near Gayaganda. Earlier, on March 10, a tusker was found dead in Bhogara forest, also close to Gayaganda. The recurring incidents highlight the vulnerability of elephants in the region and demand urgent conservation measures.
