KALAIGAON, July 12 - A wild elephant who was critically injured has been battling for life at No.1 Borongabari village under Harisinga revenue circle in Udalguri district since July 10.
Hundreds of villagers have been visiting the ailing animal and praying for its speedy recovery. The issue has also been discussed in the social media.
Udalguri is one of the districts in the State that has been badly affected by the man-elephant conflict since the past 10 years. More than 100 people and nearly 50 wild elephants have died due to the conflict.
According to information, the 20-year-old wild elephant was found walking unsteadily in Borongabari village in the morning of July 10. The animal fell to the ground just after walking a few metres.
Forest personnel from the Dhansiri Forest Division in Udalguri arrived at the spot, and preliminary treatment was given by local veterinary doctors.
Though medical treatment was provided also on July 11, the condition of the animal did not improve. Hundreds of villagers later gathered at the site to offer prayers for its recovery.
Chitta Ranjan Deka, secretary of the Village Defence Party, told this correspondent that they offered jackfruit and pumpkin to the elephant and it could eat.
Another villager, Bolen Deka, said the elephant was seen moving around with a wild herd for some days and it could have attacked by some other elephant before its expulsion from the herd. The elephant has a severe cut mark on its trunk.
MK Sarma, DFO, Dhansiri Forest Division, said a team of veterinary experts headed by Dr KK Sarma, head of the department of surgery at College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati, along with Dr Bhaskar Choudhury and Dr Samsul Haque of Wildlife Trust of India have arrived at the spot to give the best possible treatment to the injured animal.
