A baby elephant died after falling into the water tank of actor Sathyaraj’s sister’s house in the Periyanaayakkan Palayam area of Coimbatore.
Elephants thrive in the forest areas adjacent to Coimbatore’s hill areas. The wild elephants of the Western Ghats, particularly those near Periya Nayakkan Palayam, frequent Thondamuthur for food and water. Wild elephants used to visit the foothills of this region in groups or individually for water.
Aparjitha, a relative of actor Sathyaraj, owns a bungalow near the forest area in Coimbatore’s Periyanaayakanpalayam district, where elephants used to cross in large numbers. According to locals, Sathyaraj’s relative will rarely use this bungalow.
In this case, an unpleasant stink had been noticed by the local residents near the house a few days ago. When the bungalow workers went to investigate, they discovered that a baby elephant had fallen and died in the water tank on the ground floor of the house.
The forest department was immediately notified, and a team comprised of a Periyanayakanpalayam forest officer and anti-poaching guards went there to investigate. A physical examination of the baby elephant was conducted, under the supervision of Forest Veterinarian Dr. Sukumar and Govanur Government Veterinary Assistant Vetrivel, in the presence of District Forest Officer Jayaraj.
It was discovered that the deceased was a female baby elephant aged one to two months which died four to five days ago. The baby elephant got abrasions on its legs and head when it fell into the water tank. As there was not enough air inside the tank, the elephant died of suffocation.
Following the incident, the water tank where the baby elephant died was permanently closed. Netizens and local residents demanded that the house, which was rarely used and was causing disturbances to the wild elephants, be completely demolished and that action be taken against Sathyaraj’s relative for her negligence.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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