Ten elephants out of a herd of 13 died in three days in a tiger reserve in the center Indialeaving authorities perplexed as to why.

The defenses of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve In Madhya Pradesh the state began dying on Tuesday.

A park ranger spotted several elephants in visible distress about 2 km from their usual camp and alerted his superiors, who immediately sent veterinary teams.

Veterinarians found that four elephants were dead. They provided medical care to the rest of the herd, but four more died Wednesday evening and two more on Thursday.

Authorities said they were waiting for post-mortem reports to understand the cause of the mass death.

The three surviving members of the herd were under observation, NDTV reported..

Teams from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests had landed in Bandhavgarh to conduct an independent investigation. They were expected to file a preliminary report within the next 10 days.

The investigation would look into whether the mass death was accidental or intentional.

“An investigation is underway to determine whether this is a case of poisoning,” an unnamed official said. Indian Express. “There are some signs, but we will only be able to say for sure when the autopsy report is received.”

PK Verma, deputy director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, highlighted a local crop, a grain called Kodo, which could pose a risk to elephants in certain conditions.

“As we look at various avenues, it is possible that Kodo, which can be toxic to elephants, may have contributed,” he explained.

Following these deaths, park authorities destroyed Kodo crops in the area as a precaution, plowing and burning the standing grain.

A team of veterinarians was conducting a separate investigation.

“There is now a large team of doctors studying the case. We mainly treat them for a toxic infection. Medicines are recorded intravenously. Several villagers were questioned about the use of pesticides in kodo millet plants. The villagers claimed that this act was not intentional. The investigation is ongoing,” said a wildlife official quoted by the Express.

“Experts have informed us that there have been cases of elephants dying due to ingesting kodo millet and there have also been cases of successful treatment.”

The survey teams, made up of more than 100 forestry officials accompanied by a squad of dogs, carried out checks of nearby water sources, examined the movements of the herd and assessed crops within a 5 km radius around the where the tusks were found. They also collected soil samples and plant displays from the surrounding area.

The investigation was hampered, however, by the presence of a larger and more aggressive herd of elephants as well as three tigers in the area.

Bandhavgarh’s elephant population has flourished in recent years, even attracting migratory tusks from the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. Known for its ideal habitat, the reserve’s reputation as a sanctuary for elephants has now been overshadowed by the tragedy, sparking concerns over wildlife management and protection protocols in the area.