Chamarajanagar, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two wild elephants have been found dead at separate locations in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, with forest officials investigating the cause of death in one case and suspecting natural causes in the other.
A wild elephant was found dead in a decomposed state near Karadigudda Lake in the Hanur forest division on Tuesday, close to an area where a shootout had earlier been reported.
According to Forest Department sources, patrolling staff discovered the carcass during a routine patrol. As the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, officials could not immediately determine the cause of death.
Samples collected from the carcass have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination. Further details are expected after the test results become available.
In a separate incident, a female elephant’s carcass was found near Marikatte Lake in the Berambadi beat of the Bandipur forest division, in Gundlupet taluk.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Nandeesh and veterinary officers visited the site and inspected the carcass. Forest officials suspect that the elephant may have died of natural causes, possibly due to age-related ailments. Further assessment is expected to establish the exact cause of death.
Wildlife enthusiasts have criticised the Forest Department over alleged shortcomings in patrolling and monitoring forest areas, calling for stronger surveillance to protect wildlife.
The developments have drawn renewed attention to wildlife protection in Karnataka, which is home to more than 6,000 elephants, the highest population of wild elephants in India, according to the figures cited in the report.
In August 2026, three suspected poachers — Anthonyswamy, Peter and Kumar — were shot dead during a crossfire after six suspects allegedly opened fire on forest staff conducting a night patrol in Hanur. One forest staff member was injured, and the incident triggered local protests and police deployments.
A Wildlife Institute of India study cited in the report highlighted the toll of human-elephant conflict over the years, reporting 216 elephant deaths and 522 human fatalities in such incidents over a 25-year period. The report also cited the loss of more than 280 elephants in Karnataka over a recent three-year period.
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