Female elephant trapped in slush at Gunderipallam reservoir dies
The elephant had come to the reservoir to drink water when it became trapped in the slush and was unable to move
A female elephant, estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old, perished on Monday following a tragic incident at Gunderipallam reservoir in the T.N. Palayam Forest Range in Erode district. The elephant, which ventured to the reservoir to quench its thirst, became ensnared in the wet slush surrounding the water body. The receding water levels, caused by insufficient rainfall in recent months, left the reservoir's periphery slushy, making it difficult for the animal to extricate itself.
Upon learning of the situation, personnel from the Forest Department, under the leadership of Forest Range Officer John Peter, swiftly arrived at the scene, along with firefighters from the Sathyamangalam Fire and Rescue Services. Utilizing ropes, belts, and various vehicles, including an excavator, the teams worked diligently to free the distressed elephant.
Unfortunately, the animal was too weak to stand on its own once freed and succumbed to exhaustion before the rescue operation could resume the following morning. The elephant's body was subsequently transported to a forest area nearby, where it was buried after a post-mortem examination.
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