MYSURU: A 30-year-old elephant stuck in slush died on Tuesday evening after battling for life for 12 days near Yadiyala forest range in Nanjangud taluk.
With water bodies having dried up inside the forest, the elephant apparently came out in search of water and food.
It collapsed in a slushy ditch near Nugu reservoir in Maleyur and remained stuck there for 12 days, locals said.
It was left without water and food as it could not pull itself out of the slush.
Meanwhile, tribals in Hoskur handi said miscreants fired bullets at the elephant injuring its right leg in an attempt to chase it away. They feel that the pain and injury might have stopped it from pulling itself out of the slush.
Locals criticised the forest officials for not acting promptly to save the elephant. Though, the tribals informed the officials of the Bandipur Reserve forest, they turned up only on Tuesday fearing that the tribals have alerted the media.
ACF Paramesh said they had planned to bring a tamed elephant from Bandipur camp to save it from the slush. The Special Protection Force personnel of the Forest Department was also pressed for the rescue operations.
It may be recalled that another elephant had got stuck in slush near Periyapatna recently. The animal died after four days.