Udhagamandalam: A three-month-old female elephant calf was found dead in Theppakkadu forest range in Nilgiris district during the early hours of today.

According to reports, residents of Vattakalai woke up to the trumpeting of elephants and went into the forest where they found the elephant calf lying dead.

In a statement, Theppakadu Forest Range officer N Rajendran said officials rushed to Lightpadi water tank in Doddakatti area and recovered the carcass.

The cause of death is yet to be ascertained as the postmortem is scheduled in the evening and further investigation is on, he added.