The ailing ten-year-old tusker which remained under treatment for the last seven days in the Narsinghpur West Range area under Athagarh forest division after wounded at its trunk, head, back and legs by six gunshots, succumbed to the injuries on Tuesday despite the efforts of OUAT and Nandankanan Zoo veterinarians to cure it.

The pachyderm was found in ailing condition on June 7 by some Narsinghpur locals who later intimated about the incident to Badamba-Narsinghpur MLA Debi Prasad Mishra as well as the Forest department. Mishra acted promptly and took the matter with Forest and Environment Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat. As a result, an expert team From OUAT was sent to treat the injured tusker which was recovered from a rivulet.

However, though there were some improvements in the condition of the elephant initially, it again deteriorated and finally it died of the multiple bullet shot wounds. 

During the last fortnight, at least five carcasses of the elephant have been spotted by the personnel of the Special Task Force in the Athagarh jungle.

On Tuesday, the carcass of another elephant surfaced near Kharod village of Badamba range. These carcasses are supposed to have been recovered at least one to three years ago, said sources.

Some forest officials on condition of anonymity told that over 20 pachyderms have been shot at by the poachers during the last three years and tusks were stolen. The carcasses were buried in the local jungle in connivance with the high level officers of the Forest division.

At least six months ago, Athagarh Range Officer was suspended for hiding the fact concerning an elephant's death and later its burial in the jungle at night.