Captured adult elephant died after tranquilisation

Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (UNI) An adult elephant, captured in 2004 and kept chained in Godibari inside the Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary, died today soon after tranquilisation by the forest staff in a bid to control his unruly behaviour.

Forest official sources said the 45-year-old elephant ''Motilal'' last night became more hypersensitive, broke the chain and went on a rampage damaging some houses in the nearby village.

Panicked villagers approached the forest officials to bring the elephant under control and accordingly a team from Nandankanan Zoo rushed to the site this morning to tranquilise the elephant.

The team did the job but the elephant, forest officials said, took some food soon after the tranquilisation which choked his foodpipe causing instant death.

UNI