Gundlupet: A wild female elephant, which had stayed put in an uncultivated land at Chirakanahalli near Chikkathotada Katte was found dead on Saturday afternoon.

The elephant is aged about 65 years and though it is said that the elephant had died of old age, the Forest Department staff, have collected samples from the dead elephant and have sent the same to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for tests.

The female elephant from Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Tiger Reserve had entered Kundukere Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve on June 15. The elephant was spotted around Kadabur and other villages following which the Forest Department staff conducted an operation on June 16 morning to drive the elephant back to the forest.

But the jumbo did not budge and stayed at about 100 acre uncultivated land belonging to one Potharaj. But on Saturday afternoon, the elephant was found dead.

Gundlupet Sub-Division Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) G. Ravindra, Veterinarian Dr. Mirza Waseem, Kundukere Range Forest Officer (RFO) D. Srinivas, member of an NGO Raghuram, Deputy RFO Bharamappa Yentetha, Forest Guard Monya inspected the spot.

Post-mortem was conducted under the guidance of Bandipur Project Tiger Director P. Ramesh Kumar. The exact cause for the elephant’s death would be known only after receiving the FSL report.