Bhopal, Nov 6 (PTI) Forensic laboratory reports of samples from ten elephants that died in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve will be available soon and will shed more light on the causes of death, a forest official said on Wednesday.

The samples have been sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory at Sagar and also to laboratories in Jabalpur and Nagpur, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) L Krishnamoorthy told PTI.

Krishnamoorthy heads a panel set up by the state government to investigate the elephant deaths.

On October 29, four elephants were found dead in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district. The death toll later rose to ten.

According to the IVRI report, the neurotoxin cyclopiazonic acid was found in the viscera, but there was no insecticide or pesticide. It clearly suggested that there was no poisoning, but the toxicity came from eating large quantities of spoiled Kodo millet plants.

Asked about the remaining three elephants in the reserve, Krishnamoorthy said forest department teams are monitoring their movements. A baby elephant had made its way to Katni and was under surveillance. PTI MAS ADU KRK

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