35-year-old elephant is suffering with pain and is infested with maggots
Hyderabad:The Kerala forest department has launched a last-ditch effort to save the life of an injured elephant that has a gaping hole in its forehead from an injury it suffered, reportedly after a fight with another larger male elephant a few weeks ago in Thrissur district.
The rescue attempt is being mounted after an outpouring of public support in Kerala to try and save the elephant, which has been battling to stay alive for nearly four weeks.
The operation to capture it is expected to take place early on Wednesday morning in the Athirapally forest where the elephant was on Tuesday evening. If all goes well, the injured elephant will be taken to the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre to provide further treatment.
The elephant, believed to be around 35 years old, suffered a deep wound on its forehead some three weeks ago, and the wound is said to be infested with maggots. “It has become weak despite a previous attempt on January 24 to treat the wound after the elephant was tranquilised after a three-day effort. The plan is to tranquilise it tomorrow morning, and evaluate its condition and move it to the rescue centre for further treatment,” a Kerala forest department official told Deccan Chronicle.
Though after the initial treatment the elephant was released back into the Athirapally forest, it has been seen multiple times walking along roads and there has been an outpouring of demands from the public to save it. The elephant was seen splashing itself with mud on its forehead to keep away flies from the wound. “It is in pain and is suffering, and we hope we can help it,” the official said.
As part of the rescue operations, the official said four kumki elephants – trained elephants used in catching or restricting the movement of their wild counterparts – have been sent to the Athiripally forest, along with a Rapid Rescue Team led by an experienced veterinarian and his team.
A kraal — a large fenced enclosure — is being built tonight and by morning, everything should be ready. If all goes well, the animal should be on its way to Kodanad later in the morning,” the official said.
