A tusker was found dead at a farmland in Rankia village under the Bhuban Forest Range in Dhenkanal district on Friday.
Though the reason behind the death of the male elephant was yet to be ascertained, it was suspected that the animal was electrocuted. Villagers spotted the carcass in the morning and informed the Forest Department.
The age of the elephant was estimated to be around 40 years. The reason of the death could be known after an autopsy, a forest official said.
The pachyderm had come to the farmland in previous night to consume paddy and might have come in contact with a live wire of the electric pole installed at the spot, reports said.
