Bengaluru: If the Manchanabele elephant episode was a novel, then Sidda would probably be Tukutela from Wilbur Smith’s masterpiece, ‘A Time to Die’. Except in this incident there were no bullets exchanged or poachers involved.
Heavily injured in the right leg, partially blind in its right eye and absolutely unable to move, Sidda lies on a patch of land near the Machanabele reservoir.
A bevy of forest officials, Bannerghatta National Park staff and a specialised unit from the Madras Engineering Group scurry around. A forest department official sprays water mixed with turmeric powder on Sidda. “It is to ensure his wounds are clean and there is no maggot infestation,” clarifies Kushal, a Bannerghatta National Park biologist.
Since Monday, a team of specialists from Indian Army’s Madras Engineering Group have been engaged in erecting a ‘Gantry Tower’. “It is erected when we want to quickly build a bridge,” says Col P. Ravi, who is leading the MEG team engaged in aiding Sidda.
Completed in less than 30 hours, the gantry tower stands ready to help Sidda stand up. “We received a request from Dr Arun and his team which is treating Sidda, and moved into action to build this gantry. The Army is the first to respond to any crisis,” said Col Ravi.
The gantry tower, built from metal, is packed with airbags and sacks full of hay. Three JCBs hover around the elephant. One of them is hooked to a harness tied to the elephant. Looking tired and in pain, Sidda moans as the JCB tries to lift it. Despite the pachyderm having lost weight and weighing around 3.5 tonnes, the JCB is unable to move it.
Soon a tent is erected over Sidda as forest department officials try to feed it jaggery, sugarcane, ragi balls etc. The elephant eats, slowly and sometime regurgitating its food. Efforts are on to hoist Sidda so that he can be fed properly. Sidda’s fecal matter is cleaned regularly and channels have been made for urine to flow away from the animal.
Dr Arun of wildlifesos.org, an NGO involved in taking care of Sidda, said, “The animal has a condylar fracture in its long bone. We are giving him oral antibiotics and painkillers. The MEG constructed the gantry tower to help Sidda recover. We hope to lift and move Sidda into his new shelter within 24 hours.”
