A male wild elephant, aged between 10 to 12 years, was found shot dead on Monday morning in Janajagaran Community Forest at Munaljhoda, Morang.

The Head of Division Forest Office, Bishnu Ghimire, confirmed that an autopsy revealed bullet injuries to the left leg and neck, pointing to a likely case of poaching.

The elephant was found without its tail.

Recent reports indicate a surge in wild elephant sightings in Belbari and Sundararaincha in Morang.