Tusker found dead in open well at Thorapalli near Gudalur (opens original article in a new tab)

A tusker was found dead in an open well near Gudalur, with officials investigating the cause of death and conservationists criticizing unenforced safety regulations.

• A tusker was found dead in an open well at Thorapalli near Gudalur on June 21, 2026.
• Forest Department officials said the elephant likely died after falling into the well, with a postmortem planned for Monday.
• Conservationists highlighted unenforced rules about covering open wells, citing multiple wildlife deaths in the region.