10 elephants from a herd of 13 died in three days tiger reserve in the center IndiaThis left officials puzzled as to why.

Teeth in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve inside Madhya Pradesh The state began to die on Tuesday.

A park ranger spotted several elephants in visible distress about 2 km from their regular camp and alerted his superiors, who immediately dispatched their veterinary team.

Veterinarians determined that four elephants had died. They provided medical aid to the rest of the herd, but four more died on Wednesday night and another pair died on Thursday.

Authorities said they were waiting for autopsy reports to understand the cause of the mass death.

The three surviving members of the herd were under observation, NDTV reported.

Teams of National Tiger Conservation Authority and Chief Conservator of Forests descended on Bandhavgarh to conduct an independent investigation. They were expected to submit a preliminary report within the next 10 days.

The investigation will investigate whether the mass death was accidental or intentional.

“An investigation is ongoing as to whether this is a case of poisoning,” an unnamed official said. Indian Express. “There are some signs, but we can only say for sure when the autopsy report comes.”

PK Verma, deputy director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, pointed to a grain called Kodo, a local crop that could pose a risk to elephants under certain conditions.

“In examining various clues, there is a possibility that Kodo, which can be poisonous to elephants, may have contributed,” he explained.

Following the deaths, park officials destroyed Kodo crops in the area, plowed up and burned standing grain as a precaution.

A team of veterinarians was conducting a separate investigation.

“There is now a large team of doctors examining the case. We mainly treat them for toxic infection. Medications are recorded intravenously. Several villagers were questioned about the use of pesticides in kodo millet plants. Villagers claimed that the action was not intentional. Investigation is ongoing,” said a wildlife official. To express.

“Experts have informed us that there have been cases in the past where elephants have died due to eating kodo millet, and there have also been cases of successful treatment.”

The survey teams, which included more than 100 forest officials accompanied by a dog team, were checking nearby water sources, studying the herd’s movement patterns and assessing crops within a 5km radius of where the tusks were found. They also collected soil samples and plant exhibits from the surrounding area.

However, the investigation was hampered by the presence of three tigers as well as a larger and aggressive herd of elephants in the area.

Bandhavgarh’s elephant population has increased in recent years, even attracting elephants migrating from the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. Known for its ideal habitat, the reserve’s reputation as a sanctuary for elephants is now overshadowed by this tragedy, raising concerns about wildlife management and conservation protocols in the area.