Goswami found 14 elephants dead Thursday at the top of a hill in the reserve, housed in the Nagaon district of Assam state. Four elephants were found at the bottom of the hill.
The animals were struck by lightning, according to vets’ preliminary reports.
Despite the conclusions, autopsies will still be performed to be sure, said Goswami.
An estimated 6,000 or more wild Asiatic elephants live in Assam.
