Coimbatore: Two elephants die of high voltage electrocution

Coimbatore: Two wild elephants died and a calf was injured of high voltage electrocution near Mettupalayam on Monday night. Most of the forest ranges in Coimbatore forest division are dry without water following the failure of north east monsoon. Animals such as elephant, deer, wild boar, leopard and small reptiles frequently enter human habitats for feed and water.

A herd of three elephants including an 18-month-old male calf, headed by a 30-year-old female elephant entered a farmland near Dhasampalayam village in Mettupalayam in search of water on Monday night hours.

While making an attempt to enter a coconut farm belong to 57 year old farmer Palanisamy, the adult female elephant and a six-year-old semi adult male were severely injured in the high voltage electrocution passing through the fencing of the farm.

Both the elephants died at the spot after a huge trumpeting alarm, the electric current passed through the mother elephant had also injured the calf, which escaped with minor injuries in its trunk.

On receiving information from members of the public, the forest department officials and staffs rushed to the spot. M. Nasir, forest range officer of Mettupalayam, told DC, that he suspects both the male elephants to be the calves of the adult female, and the sub adult male is estimated to be around six years old.  

“We have rescued the calf, which is being treated. Following the post-mortem report, we will be taking legal action against the farmer for passing high voltage current in the fencing violating forest department rules,” he said.