Hunsur: A makna elephant (a tuskless male Asian elephant) was found dead in a mysterious manner at a field in Gurupura Tibetan Settlement here on Friday.

The jumbo is said to be around 28 to 30 years old. 

It is said that an elephant herd had strayed out of Nagarahole National Park (Veeranahosahalli) on Thursday night in search of food and had destroyed crops  in and around the region. 

It is said the jumbo had died after a fight with another jumbo while returning to the forest from the fields. It had crossed the wired fence at the land belonging to Honda at the Tibetan Camp, when it collapsed and died.

The exact reason for the death of the jumbo, whether it is after the fight or out of electrocution or normal death will be known after the post-mortem report is available.

Assistant Conservator of Forest Satish, Range Forest Officer Naman Narayan Nayak, STPF and other forest staff visited the spot.

Nagarahole Park Veterinarian Dr. Ramesh, who conducted post-mortem, was present at the spot till its last rites were held.

On learning about the death of the elephant, a large number of villagers from the nearby villages gathered at the fields while some children were in tears. 

Rural ASI Suresh and staff supervised the bandobust and dispersed the crowd.