Elephant calf dies after consuming explosive bait in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve; one arrested

A one-and-a-half-year-old female elephant calf died after consuming an avuttukai (country-made explosive) allegedly placed to hunt wild boars in the reserve forest area of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, while a search is on to nab the other accused.

The carcass was found on January 10, 2026, during a routine patrol in the Boothikadu range of the Guthiyalathur reserve forest, which falls under the Kadambur Forest Range in the Sathyamangalam Division. Forest staff alerted Kulal Yogesh Vilas, Deputy Director of STR and District Forest Officer of Sathyamangalam Division.

A postmortem was conducted under the Tamil Nadu Elephant Death Audit Framework (EDAF) in the presence of the Deputy Director, a Forest Range Officer from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, the president of the Eco Development Committee from Malliamman Durgham, and the coordinator of the READ NGO. The Forest Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of STR performed the autopsy, which confirmed that the calf died due to injuries caused by a country-made explosive bait. Samples of vital organs were collected for laboratory analysis.

Subsequently, a special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Ekkathur section forester was formed to track down those responsible. During the investigation, one suspect, K. Kaalimuthur of Thondur in the hill area, was arrested on Monday (January 12) and a wildlife offence case was registered at the Kadambur Forest Range. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and a special team has been deployed to apprehend the other suspect, who is currently absconding. Since an explosive substance was involved, the Kadambur police were also alerted, and further inquiry is under way.