“This is happening after six years. We are very concerned,’’ conservator of forests, R Kannan, who has been camping at the spot since Friday, told The Times of India.

Forest officials said around 8.40 am on Friday, an anti-poaching team, patrolling the area, heard a gun shot. After an hour-and-half search, the team tracked the tusker, following its blood stain, and found it lying dead near a water pond.

Officials said after it was shot in its chest, probably with a musket, the elephant had run more than 500 metres searching for water.

After drinking water, it had collapsed. Officials said the animal’s tusks and tail had been cruelly hacked off by the poachers.

Police brought in sniffer dogs but since it was more than six hours after the incident, they made little progress in tracking down the poachers. A Special Task Force (STF) team from Sathyamangalam was also part of the patrol.

Eight teams have been formed to nab the poachers. All check posts across the State border have been put on alert.