A juvenile she-elephant was found dead at Uppukulam Vellattumala, near Edathanattukara, on Tuesday.
Local residents noticed the carcass in the morning, and the Forest department officials were called in.
Forest officials said that they suspected the elephant died of natural cause following a serious bacterial infection from a wound on its back.
Samples from the internal organs were collected and sent for a scientific examination. The carcass was buried after a necropsy by a team of vets led by David Abraham.
