A 25-year-old tusker was found dead near the reserve forest behind the Bhavanisagar dam in Coimbatore, on Sunday, taking the total count of dead elephants in the region to at least four in the last month.

According to the Coimbatore District Forest Officer (Additional Charge) A. Periyasamy, the forest department staff found the carcass of the tusker near Etchipaali Saragam in Sirumugai range around 2.15 pm. The carcass was near the backside of the dam where elephants are usually spotted drinking water during the summers.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the elephant might have died of an infection and due to the presence of intestinal worms. The infection might have affected the tusker’s health leading to its demise,” he said.

The carcass of the elephant was also reportedly looking emaciated, and the death could have occurred recently as it was not fully decomposed.

“An autopsy will be conducted by local veterinarians under Forest Veterinarian Dr. V.S. Manoharan. Vital organs will be sent to the lab for further investigation,” said the DFO who inspected the carcass.

The post-mortem will be conducted early on Monday.

According to reports, four elephants have died in one month in Coimbatore, including the very tragic deaths of Madukkarai Maharaj, and the female elephant who was hit by a speeding train, last month.