KALAIGAON, May 24 - A severely injured six-year-old wild elephant died yesterday evening after battling for life since May 18 at Ganeshghat village in Udalguri district.
The injured elephant calf had been very weak while entering the remote village near Majuli Tea Estate with two other wild elephants on May 18. The local villagers could see several injury marks on its body and blood was oozing out from a deep gash on its forehead.Unable to cross a stream, the elephant calf fell to the ground. A team of forest personnel along with veterinarians started treating the injured elephant since May 19.
Even top veterinary specialists from Guwahati treated the calf, though there was no positive response. Senior managers of Nonaipara and Majuli Tea Estate also offered all possible support, but nothing could be done and the calf slowly drifted into a coma.
Significantly, the incident drew worldwide attention through the social media. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal personally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar for arranging prompt treatment for the grievously injured elephant calf.
As an act of mercy perhaps, death must have taken pity and released the slatey grey giant calf of its earthly bondage and unbearable sufferings on the evening of May 23.
