A female wild elephant was found dead on Saturday morning in a paddy field belonging to local resident Kamal Karki at Mechinagar-1 in Jhapa district.

According to conservationist Shankar Luintel, the elephant is believed to have died on Friday night. The site lies close to the Mechi River.

Upon receiving information, a team from the division forest office, Jhapa, reached the scene.

Bharat Babu Shrestha, chief of the division forest office, said that experts from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and the National Trust for Nature Conservation have also been called for further investigation.

“The team has already arrived at the site. Specialists have been requested to assist in determining the cause of death. A detailed investigation will reveal what happened,” Shrestha said.