Heartbreaking video: Young elephant mourns over its mother's body in Odisha forests

New Delhi: Heartbreaking scenes were recorded from the forests of Odisha where an elephant kept grieving over the death of its mother while standing to its body. It was informed that the young elephant stood there next to its mother's body for hours together and kept on expressing its pain over the parent's demise for an entire day. Visuals showed the elephant trying hard to wake up the mother and bring it back to life.

IFS Officer shares video on social media

IFS officer Susanta Nanda shared a poignant video on X, capturing the sorrowful moment when a sub-adult bull elephant mourned the passing of its herd's matriarch. According to Nanda, the elderly matriarch succumbed to old age, leaving the young bull distraught. In a heartfelt post, Nanda described the scene: "The sub-adult bull refused to leave the matriarch's side, standing still for nearly a day in a futile attempt to rouse her from eternal slumber." The moving incident was captured in the forests of Northern Odisha.

The matriarch died of old age. The sub adult bull of the herd kept grieving and didn’t move an inch for almost a day trying to wake it up…
From the forests of Northern Odisha 😢 pic.twitter.com/kaqiD75VWe

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) August 8, 2024

What media report suggests? 

According to media reports, the forest officials quickly responded to the incident, paying a visit to the site upon learning of the matriarch's passing. A team consisting of an elephant squad and a veterinary expert was dispatched to assess the situation and take appropriate measures. The authorities' prompt attention to the matter ensured a thorough investigation and necessary action were taken in the wake of the elderly elephant's demise.

Post-mortem mentions "natural death"

To confirm the cause of death and dispel any uncertainty, forest officials in Odisha conducted a post-mortem examination, which revealed that the mother elephant had succumbed to natural causes, specifically old age. Following the initial investigation, the elephant's body was laid to rest in the forest. A K Dalei, an official from the Anandpur Wildlife Division, shared details of the case with the media, noting that while the initial findings indicate a natural death, a more in-depth investigation is still ongoing to ensure all aspects of the matter are thoroughly explored.