In a commendable wildlife rescue operation, the Tenkasi Forest Department successfully treated and stabilised a 35-year-old male wild elephant that had been ailing and wandering in the Sivagiri forest range for several days. The elephant, which was found critically ill on private patta land, is now reported to be stable and under safe observation following a rigorous two-day veterinary intervention.
Operation Elephant Rescue: A Race Against Time
The distressed elephant was discovered lying down and unable to stand on Tuesday, December 2. Acting swiftly on the directions of Anand, the Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the Tirunelveli Tiger Reserve, the forest department launched an immediate rescue mission. A special monitoring team, which had been tracking the elephant's movements in the Sivagiri range for about a month, had already collected dung samples for analysis at a veterinary college. These samples had initially revealed the presence of pus, confirming the animal's sickness.
Despite continuous monitoring, the elephant's condition deteriorated to the point where it could not stand. District Forest Officer Raj Mohan explained to the Times of India that the rescue team used a crane to lift the massive animal. Once upright, the elephant remained standing for nearly six hours while veterinarians administered critical care.
Intensive Medical Intervention and Diagnosis
The veterinary team carried out an intensive treatment regimen to stabilise the elephant's health. A total of twenty-five bottles of intravenous (IV) fluids were administered to combat dehydration and weakness. Preliminary observations by the doctors suggested the elephant might have suffered from an internal haemorrhage. A key indicator of its severe digestive distress was that the food it consumed was being excreted undigested.
"The elephant is now recovered, and we are continuously monitoring its health," stated DFO Raj Mohan. He added that while the elephant charges when approached, preventing direct contact, the team is ingeniously administering medicine by placing medicated morsels in areas the elephant frequents. Encouragingly, a recent dung test has shown positive signs of recovery, indicating that the treatment is working.
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Care
The successful rescue highlights the persistent efforts of the Tamil Nadu forest department in wildlife conservation. The elephant remains under the vigilant watch of the Tenkasi forest team. This incident underscores the challenges and dedication involved in managing human-wildlife interfaces and providing urgent medical care to large, wild animals in distress. The forest department's proactive setup of a special monitoring team was instrumental in ensuring timely intervention for the ailing tusker.
