Young Tusker Found Dead in Kerala Reservoir; Herpes Virus Suspected
An eight-year-old wild elephant was found dead in the Anayirankal dam reservoir under the Devikulam forest range in Idukki district on Monday morning. Forest officials from the Rapid Response Team (RRT) spotted the carcass of the tusker during a routine patrol.
A medical team led by assistant veterinary surgeon Sidharth Shankar, along with Santhanpara veterinary surgeon Pavizham G. Nair and Chinnakkanal veterinary surgeon Lakshmi, conducted a post-mortem examination of the elephant.
Devikulam range officer E.D. Arun Kumar stated that preliminary post-mortem findings indicate a herpes virus infection may be behind the elephant's sudden death. “The animal showed clear signs of a herpes infection. However, tissue samples have been sent for laboratory analysis, and the exact cause of death will only be confirmed after the verification results arrive,” the official said.
With the loss of this young tusker, the wild elephant population in the Chinnakkanal region under the Devikulam range has dropped from 18 to 17. The death of another male elephant has further reduced the number of surviving tuskers in the area to just two.
Forest officials have taken necessary precautions to prevent the spread of any infection. The area continues to be monitored, and further updates will be provided after laboratory results confirm the cause of death.
