Rayagada: A female elephant was found dead in the Chimpapur area under the Gunupur Forest Range in Rayagada on Tuesday night.
The elephant is suspected to have died due to electrocution.
According to forest officials, the elephant had entered the area along with another elephant from the Kotraguda jungle in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The two elephants had been roaming in the Gunupur forest range for some time.
Tragically, this is not the first incident of elephant electrocution in the area. Four elephants from the same herd had earlier died due to electrocution last year, and the two remaining elephants had entered the Gunupur forest range.
On Tuesday night, the two elephants had wandered into a kapok fence near Chimpapur and attempted to break an electric pole. In the process, the female elephant is reported to have come in contact with a live wire, resulting in her death.
The residents suspect that the other elephant may also have been injured due to electrocution. The forest officials have launched an investigation into the incident.
