Three more elephants die, toll now 10

Three more wild elephants have died in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) after consuming a toxic substance, taking the toll to 10 so far this week, while another jumbo is in a critical condition, an official said on Thursday.

BANDHAVGARH "One tusker died on Wednesday and another one on Thursday morning. One more is battling for life," he told PTI preferring anonymity.

Post-mortem examinations of eight elephants have been completed, while the autopsy of the ninth pachyderm was currently on, he said.

When contacted over phone, additional principal chief conservator of forest (Wildlife) L Krishnamoorthy said, "Autopsies have been conducted and veterinary doctors on the basis of circumstantial evidence have said toxicity has been observed in their stomach."