Coimbatore: A 15-year-old female elephant was found dead in the Bhavanisagar reservoir area in Sirumugai forest range of Coimbatore forest division on Saturday evening. Forest officials said the elephant died of liver cirrhosis.The carcass was found in Thanipangadu area of Nilgiri eastern slopes reserve forest, under Pethikuttai section after which forest officials informed the Coimbatore divisional forest officer (DFO).A necropsy was conducted on Sunday by veterinarian Dr K Vijayaraghavan from the Wildlife Translocation and Treatment Centre (WTTC), Pethikuttai, and Dr Sivagurunathan, assistant veterinary surgeon from Therampalayam. They also collected samples from the carcass and sent it to a laboratory for further analysis.Following the advice of the veterinarians, the carcass was left at the spot where it was found, to serve as food for other wild animals.
