Deogarh: An injured tusker, suspected to be shot by poachers, was left battling for life at Asurkhol village under Tileibani block in the district Tuesday night.
The matter came to light after locals spotted it and alerted forest officials who tried their best to give the pachyderm a new lease of life.
According to officials, the pachyderm got separated from its herd and was spotted wandering around a banyan tree near the village Tarini temple besides a river canal. To the locals’ surprise, the animal lay in the water body helpless, unable to move and writhing in pain. On seeing a festering wound near its ear, locals alerted forest officials.
Forest officials began treatment of the animal. Forest division officer Karthik Chandra Samantaray, additional forester Suresh Chandra Sethy, local forester Mahendra Sahu, additional livestock inspector Sameer Kumar Sahu along with fire brigade officials reached the village and administered treatment to the ailing tusker Tuesday morning.
Additional livestock inspector Dr Alok Dash along with a team reached Wednesday morning and carried out treatment. However, the pachyderm’s condition kept on deteriorating and it was yet to recover fully. A grievous wound was spotted near its ear. Locals suspected the jumbo was shot by poachers.
It may be noted that a pregnant female elephant had died June 9. Forest officials had stated that a pachyderm was affected by viral disease due to oral infection. Carcasses of two female elephants along with a calf were spotted in a forest June 12. Women, who had gone to collect firewood from the forest, spotted it and alerted forest officials. After post-mortem, it was found the pachyderms were struck by lightning.
The deteriorating condition of the tusker raised questions on the safety of jumbos. Every effort is are being made to save the tusker, officials said. PNN