Story at a glance
- The Associated Press reports the herd of wild Asiatic elephants, which included five calves, was found dead in the protected Kondali forest reserve.
- Wildlife officials found 14 elephants dead on top of a hill and four at the bottom.
- Officials said preliminary reports suggest the animals were struck and killed by lightning in the area, but autopsies were being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
A herd of 18 elephants in remote northeastern India may have been killed by a massive lightning strike.
The Associated Press reports that the herd of wild Asiatic elephants, which included five calves, was found dead in the protected Kondali forest reserve in the state of Assam on Thursday.
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Villagers found 14 elephants dead on top of a hill and four at the bottom and alerted wildlife officials.
Officials said preliminary reports suggest the animals were struck and killed by lightning in the area, but autopsies were being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
“A preliminary report suggests the deaths could be due to lightning, although we need to find out through forensic tests if there could be any other reason like poisoning or disease,” Assam’s forest and wildlife minister Parimal Suklabaidya told Reuters.
Indian authorities are investigating the incident.
An estimated 6,000 or more wild Asiatic elephants live in Assam. India is home to about 27,000 elephants, making up 60 percent of the wild Asian elephant population.
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