The state government on Wednesday said that three heavy trained elephants and a team of experts along with forest officials were on the lookout for these elephants. The team trapped one female elephant and the second was spotted though not trapped. The captured elephant was given anti-doses and it died about 27 hours later.

“The female elephant died after 27 hours of its capture. Post mortem has been conducted and the viscera preserved. The entire capture and treatment has been video recorded. A probe will be conducted in the death,” said Minister for Forests Babanrao Pachpute.

Pachpute added that the post mortem report revealed death due to severe diarrhea, dehydration and worms.

Meanwhile, efforts to trap other elephants will have to be abandoned for a week as they have not been spotted for two days, is on. “We are keeping a close watch. An almost 90 kilometer long stretch around the state’s border has been sealed and is being watched,” said Pachpute.

The minister also informed that the government was considering issuing identity cards to snake-lovers and provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh to them as they risk their lives capturing and releasing snakes.

In a move to create awareness on snakes, the government has also planned a 15-day tour of the state in which programmes by experts would be held besides workshops to identify real snake lovers.

The state registers close to 1,000 deaths every year due to snake bites and snakes die after being run over by vehicles on highways or are killed due to milk consumption.