Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS): Police and forest officials are on the lookout for culprits after the recovery of a 1.5 metre, 15 kg elephant tusk from a tribal settlement in Tamil Nadu, officials said on Friday.

Officials did not reveal the name of the tribal hamlet from where the tusk was seized on Thursday.

Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Shekar Kumar Niraj told IANS that they "cannot reveal the name of the tribal village from where the tusk was recovered. This would derail the ongoing investigation".

The investigation commenced after information was received of the carcass of a elephant, with its left tusk chopped, being found at the reserve forest area in Udumpalpet forest range.

The forest officials said that there were no external injuries on the body of the elephant and that it seemed to have died a week ago.

The forest officials also said that the arrest would be made in a couple of days and that the department has zeroed in on the culprits. An official said that the investigation is conducted in a scientific manner as DNA fingerprinting is being done, and phone calls made from the area are also being examined.

The Sathyamangalam forest bordering Karnataka has been the area of operation for notorious poacher, Veerappan, who was later killed by a Special Task Force.