Shocked and scarred, macaque reclaims life after rescue

Mangaluru: An adult bonnet macaque that suffered severe electrocution injuries to its face and limbs recovered after and was released back into the wild recently.The macaque was found in the first week of Jan after a painter in Moodubelle, Udupi, noticed the injured animal inside a house. The monkey's face was badly burnt, its nostrils were blocked with dead tissue, and its hands were charred. Disoriented and unable to see properly, it attempted to flee whenever approached, said Akshay N Shet, founder of Uchhu Trust (Udupi Snake in the City). he said, "It was badly injured and couldn't see. It took 45 minutes to safely capture it. We were not even sure it would survive."
It was shifted to the CARE Wildlife Wing for treatment. Initially suspected to be burn injury, veterinarians later confirmed it was electrocution. Dr Meghana Pemmaiah of CARE Wildlife Wing said the pattern of injuries, including severe burns on the face, hands, and legs, indicated electrical current passed through specific parts of the body. "When electricity passes through tissue, that area dies. We had to sedate him and surgically remove the dead skin so new tissue could grow. Otherwise, healing would not happen," she said."The nostrils were completely blocked by necrotic tissue, forcing the macaque to breathe through its mouth. After careful debridement, new tissue began forming, gradually restoring normal breathing. Electrocution cases can be life-threatening, as high-voltage shocks may damage internal organs. Fortunately, in this case, the injuries were superficial," Dr Meghana said.The team used a specialised squeeze cage to safely administer antibiotics and injections without repeatedly sedating the macaque, minimising stress and risk. Within weeks, fresh skin replaced the damaged areas, and its breathing and overall condition improved significantly. After nearly a month under care, the animal was declared fit for release.Wildlife rehabilitators with CARE Wildlife Wing Rahul J and Mayur G took care of the animal until he was released in the same area with the help of rescuer Akshay and the forest department.