Coimbatore (TN): A 23-year-old male elephant was on Sunday found dead near Valparai taluk of the district, under the Anamalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu, raising number of such deaths to four in past couple of months.
Villagers on Sunday noticed the carcass of the pachyderm and informed forest officials, who rushed to the spot, department sources said.
Three elephants have been found dead in the Reserve area in past two months raising concern among villagers and environmentalists.
Meanwhile, some women who were going to fetch water early on Sunday at Vazhathottam in Valparai reportedly noticed a leopard running through the lanes, the sources said.
A half-eaten body of a dog was found in an approach lane, they said.
On getting information of the incident a few personnel of the forest department arrived at the scene and maintained vigil, they added.
