The tusker, aged about 12 years, was spotted dead by the forest personnel in an Arhar field yesterday with its tusks intact, divisional forest officer (DFO), Baripada, Bijay Kumar Panda.
The jumbo had come from the adjoining Similipal forests in a herd of 16 elephants to the Dukura territorial forest range, a few days ago.
Forest personnel had chased the elephants into the woods. While 11 of them retreated into the forests, five took to a different route and went towards Pithabata forest range by crossing the river Budhabalanga near here.
Meanwhile, after they found that the tusker was dead, the other four elephants stayed put near the carcass through out the day yesterday.
"The tusker is believed to have suffered problem in the stomach with bleeding injury on its mouth. Prima facie it appears there is no involvement of poachers in the incident", Panda said adding forest personnel were keeping strict vigil on the movement of the herd although.
