A wild elephant was discovered dead in the Kochuwa Pahar Toli region of Assam’s Nagaon district on Friday morning. The carcass was found lying motionless in a paddy field, with local residents being the first to spot it and promptly notify the forest department.

A team from the Kampur Forest Division swiftly responded to assess the circumstances surrounding the animal’s death. Preliminary observations suggest that the elephant may have died from poisoning after consuming chemical substances commonly used as pesticides or fertilizers in the paddy fields.

However, conflicting reports indicate that infighting among elephants might be the cause of death, as stated by Forest Range Officer Nepal Mandal. The forest department is currently investigating the exact cause of death, with samples likely to be sent for testing to confirm the presence of toxic agents.

This incident echoes the 2021 tragedy where 18 wild elephants died atop Bamuni Hills in Nagaon Forest Division, sparking concerns about man-elephant conflict and the need for conservation efforts.