Bhubaneswar: Ten-year-old male elephant ‘Chandan’ died at Nandankanan Zoological Park of Bhubaneswar late Saturday night.
According to zoo officials, the elephant fell ill three days back. He was suffering from a disease that had led to reduced appetite, swollen glands and increased body temperature.
Even though veterinary officers of the zoological park were attending to him as per the advice of Centre for Wildlife Health in OUAT Bhubaneswar, he succumbed to the illness while under treatment.
The Forest Department officials have sent the carcass for postmortem. The exact cause of death can only be known after postmortem, a zoo official said.
Chandan was four months old when he lost his mother. He was rescued from Chandaka forest division and brought to Nandankanan where he spent the rest of his life.
Nandankanan record shows that after the death of Chandan only six elephants are remaining at the zoo.
PNN