The postmortem, carried out by a four-member team, led by Thirukumaran, Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry, revealed that the pachyderm had serious head injuries and the skull was severely damaged, as it had attempted to break the specially made kraal, where it was kept, forest department sources said.
'Maharaj', which was creating menace for the last one year in Madukkarai and nearby areas on the outskirts, killing three persons, was tranquilised and taken to Varakaliyar camp at Top Slip in ATR three days back.
It had hit the wooden bars thrice and once its head was caught in between the wooden logs, which might have caused the injuries to the skull, the forest officials said, adding the viscera and other parts will be sent for further examination.
The two-and-half-hour long postmortem, was carried out in presence of representatives of various NGOs, animal lovers, senior officials of ATR and the process was also videographed.
The forest department has trained nearly 50 kumkis (trained and tamed elephants) and this was the first time a death was reported, during such process, sources said.