Keonjhar, March 2: A tusker was found dead in Atei reserve forest near Kolipasi village in Ghatagaon forest range in the district today. Villagers found the jumbo lying dead in the reserve forest this morning and informed the matter to the local forest officials. The elephant bore gun shot wounds.

"I spotted the pachyderm's carcass while venturing out in the field this morning. There were injury marks in its body. However, both its teeth were intact. I immediately informed the matter to the forest authorities," said Kalia Jena, a resident of Kolipasi.

Ghatagaon forest officials reached the spot later in the day and started a probe into the death of the tusker.

"The dead tusker was around 50-years-old. There was an injury mark on the left side of its belly," said Rohit Kumar Lenka, divisional forest officer of Keonjhar.

The forest officials suspect that injury might have been caused due to a gunshot.

"The matter is under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that the pachyderm has succumbed to bullet injuries," said Lenka.

The forest officials have seized the carcass of the elephant and conducted a post-mortem.

"We are verifying the incident from various angels and are waiting for the post-mortem report," he said.

Later, the tusker was buried in the forest in the presence of forest officials.

The exact reason behind the death can be ascertained after getting the post mortem report, officials said.