A female elephant was found dead at a farmland near Basantapada village under the Parjang police limits in Dhenkanal district on Thursday.
Locals spotted its carcass and informed forest officials, who reached the spot and started investigation to ascertain the reason of the animal’s death. The circumstances under which the animal died can be known after autopsy, an official said. A herd of elephants had last night damaged crops in the area; and it was suspected that a fight between the jumbos might have led to the death of the female elephant.