A male elephant aged between 20-25 years was found dead in Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand. The animal was reportedly being chased by a tiger for three consecutive days before park officials found it lifeless on Sunday. Authorities now suspect the jumbo would have died of exhaustion and fatigue caused due to the prolonged chase by the big cat.
The video showing the elephant being chased by a tiger during the night before its death has surfaced online. It shows the elephant wandering in the woods during the dark while the tiger follows it.
No mishap toward the elephant was recorded on camera, but Jim Corbett officials suspect its collapse and eventual death to have been a result of the tiger's relentless chase.
Visuals surface
"Not poaching, died due to exhaustion": Officials
The saddening visuals showed the deceased elephant lying on the roadside of a deserted path in the national park.
One of the officials addressed the case and said, "We have come across an elephant lying dead on the main road. Circumstantial evidences and discussion with staff highlight that a tiger was behind this elephant for the last few days, including the night before its death. The tiger could have made the elephant tired and collapse".
He ruled out any chances of poaching.
He pointed out that the staff rushed to spot before the tiger could cause any further injury to the body of the elephant.
The elephant's body has been sent for post-mortem.
21 elephant deaths from 2014 to 2019
According to a PTI report, a total of 21 elephants were found dead in Jim Corbett National Park between 2014 and mid 2019.
The report stated that out of the total 36 deaths involving three species, elephant deaths topped the list. Of the 21 wild elephant deaths, 60 percent (13) were reported due to attack by tigers.
On the other hand, during the said period, nine tigers and six leopards were also found dead in the park premises.
