A one-and-a-half-year-old female elephant calf died after eating an avuttukai, a country-made explosive. The explosive was allegedly placed to hunt wild boars in the reserve forest. The fatal incident happened in the Boothikadu range of the Guthiyalathur reserve forest, part of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). Forest staff found the carcass on January 10, 2026, during a routine patrol and alerted Kulal Yogesh Vilas, Deputy Director of STR and District Forest Officer. A postmortem was done under the Tamil Nadu Elephant Death Audit Framework (EDAF). The Deputy Director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officer, Eco Development Committee president, and READ NGO coordinator attended. The Forest Veterinary Assistant Surgeon confirmed death was caused by injuries from the explosive bait. Organ samples were sent for laboratory testing. A special investigation team led by the Ekkathur section forester was set up to find those responsible. On January 12, suspect K. Kaalimuthur from Thondur hill area was arrested and a wildlife offence case registered. A special team is hunting for the other accused still absconding. The Kadambur police were informed since explosives were involved. Further inquiry is ongoing.