Terengganu wildlife department (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong said the elephant, aged 15, died at about 2.30pm.

“I received the sad news from a staff member working in the field. A post-mortem has been carried out to determine the cause of death.

“I am waiting for the post-mortem report. The elephant will be buried at the spot where it was chained,” Loo said today.

He said the animal, which weighed about two tonnes, was supposed to have been relocated with the help of tame elephants tomorrow.

Perhilitan sprung into action after receiving complaints from villagers that the wild bull elephant had been roaming the village.

On Saturday, the department subdued it with tranquilisers before it was chained to a tree pending relocation.