Bargaon: An adult tusker was Sunday found battling for life following critical injuries on its trunk and foot in Rajgangpur jungle under Bargaon forest range in Sundargarh district.
Villagers living on the fringes of the forest noticed the animal limping with great pain and eating leaves by kneeling on the ground a few months back. The tusker is part of a herd from Jharkhand which has been straying into the district for the last two years. The injury was noticed when it strayed into Dahijira jungle a few months ago.
With its condition remaining critical, the pachyderm is slowly inching towards death in the absence of treatment. The bottom part of its trunk was found hanging as the injury has become septic.
It is apprehended, that the bottom part of the trunk might get detached from the body anytime.
The villagers demanded the immediate intervention of forest officials for its treatment. They claimed that the animal has also a deep injury on its foot after it possibly stamped on a broken liquor bottle thrown by picnickers in the forest.
However, the actual reason behind the injury on its trunk is yet to be ascertained.
PNN
