An 18-year-old female elephant was today found dead near a private tea estate on Coonoor-Barliar area, about 25 km from here, forest department sources said. Injuries on the elephant indicated that it had a fight with a male elephant which had gored it, sources said. Meanwhile,traffic was paralysed for over one hour on Masanagudi-Theppakkadu Road under Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, as a herd of elephants stood guard, protecting a female elephant, which was delivering a calf. The herd did not allow movement of people or vehicles in the vicinity till the delivery was over,the sources said.PTI
