A pregnant elephant aged about 40 years was found dead near Baulapata under the Khuntuni Range of the Athagarh Forest Division on Monday. According to sources, forest officials getting a tipoff from villagers of the nearby area that an elephant had died at Baulapata rushed to the spot and seized its carcas.
DFO Arun Swain with a team reached the spot and made arrangements for autopsy of the carcass.
Veterinary surgeon Susant Behera after autopsy informed this reporter that the pachyderm might have died due to heavy labour pain ahead of delivery. The baby in the womb was of eight months.
The real cause of the death would be revealed after the viscera report reached, said DFO Swain.