GUWAHATI, Aug 20 - An elephant that strayed into the city this morning had a harrowing time in the concrete jungle before it was able to make its way into the nearby forests of the Lokhra area.
The elephant caused no harm to people or property during its stay in the city.
A Forest official said that the jumbo probably strayed into a residential area near Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Natboma, late last night.
�We got intimation from the Basistha police about the straying elephant and arrived at the site this morning. There were many curious onlookers and the disturbed animal took shelter in a swamp near the four-lane highway. Around 10.30 am, it emerged out of the swamp and we � with help from the police � facilitated its movement across the highway. The animal then took its way into the forested hills,� he said.
Wildlife lovers condemned the manner in which one or two electronic media portrayed the incident. �They acted as if the animal was terrorising the people, whereas it was the elephant which had a harrowing time in the concrete jungle. The hysterical manner of presenting the development left a bad taste in the mouth. The media needs to be sensitised on such news coverage,� a local resident said.
