Coimbatore : A highly decomposed carcass of an elephant was found on the banks of Bhavani river near Mettupalayam in the district early Thursday.

A forest anti-poaching squad on the morning rounds noticed foul smell in the Sundapatti forest area coming under Mettupalayam forest range and located the decomposed carcass of a female elephant, aged about 24 years, lying there,

The reason for its death would be known after a post-mortem, forest department sources said.