Guwahati: The carcass of a female wild elephant, estimated to be around 15 years old, was recovered near Kholakhat Reserve Forest in Jagiroad, Morigaon district, on Friday.Forest officials found two apparent injury marks on the elephant’s head and launched an investigation to determine whether it was killed by poachers or died after a fight with another animal.Achyut Gogoi, range officer of Dharamtul forest range, said, “We have initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the elephant’s death, and a case has been registered. Veterinary officers arrived at the site, and the carcass was sent forpost-mortem.”According to nearby villagers, the elephant entered the area during the night to forage in paddy fields and was believed to be part of a herd. The villagers said they burst firecrackers to drive the animal away, but it remained in the vicinity before collapsing in a nearby field.The villagers suspect that the elephant may have been shot by poachers inside the forest, citing a mark on its body. They have urged the forest department to conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether the animal suffered a gunshot injury or died from another cause.
