NEW DELHI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A toxicology report has revealed that 10 elephants in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) were killed last week due to eating a large amount of fungus-infected kodo millet crop, officials said Wednesday.
According to the report released by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, the examination conducted by the institute found cyclopiazonic acid, a toxic substance produced by some fungi, in all samples collected from the 10 elephant carcasses.
"Cyclopiazonic acid found in fungal-infected kodo millets was detected in all samples of liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lung, stomach, and intestinal contents with concentration above 100 ppb (parts per billion). The result indicates that elephants might have eaten large quantities of kodo," said L Krishnamoorthy, head of the state probe committee set up to investigate the deaths and additional principal chief conservator of forest.
The actual toxicity of cyclopiazonic acid found in the samples is being calculated.
The report, however, ruled out the foul play by saying there was no presence of foreign poisonous elements in the samples.
Wildlife officials said a herd of 13 elephants was found roaming together in the BTR some days back. Of them, 10 died in three days from Oct. 29. ■