Keonjhar makhna elephant succumbs to tusker-inflicted wounds

Keonjhar: The makhna elephant, who had been under treatment since Sept for the severe injuries it received in tusker attacks in Telkoi forest range of Keonjhar district, died on Monday night, said Keonjhar divisional forest officer (DFO) Dhanraj H D.

According to the forest department, the elephant’s condition deteriorated around 6.30pm on Monday. Despite efforts to save it, the male tusk-less elephant died.

“A veterinary doctors’ team, in consultation with experts from Bhubaneswar, provided emergency care, but the elephant could not survive. The main cause of death was septicemia and severe injuries due to repeated attacks,” said Keonjhar DFO Dhanraj.

Sources said that the elephant was first tracked limping in the forest on Sept 27. As the makhna elephant faced repeated aggression from tuskers, it sustained multiple injuries. In the last three months, the forest department had been continuously monitoring the elephant using thermal drones and ground tracking.

The wounds were cleaned and treated with antibiotics on Nov 11. But the elephant could not move properly or eat.

On Saturday, it suddenly collapsed in mud in a field. It woke up after many hours but could not move due to weakness.

On Monday again, the elephant fell down in a waterlogged field near Kalima village and was unable to get up due to severe fatigue and other conditions.

Local residents alleged that the health condition of the elephant gradually declined and it became weak due to lack of proper treatment.

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