When humanity saved notorious jumbo a painful life in Tamil Nadu

An ailing elephant, known for its notoriety for long in the villages on the outskirts of Coimbatore, has been saved from living with excruciating pain, courtesy forest rangers and wildlife officials timely help.

By Jehovah. G

Mankarai (Coimbatore), Sep.9 : An ailing elephant, known for its notoriety for long in the villages on the outskirts of Coimbatore, has been saved from living with excruciating pain, courtesy forest rangers and wildlife officials' timely help.

The jumbo, believed to be around 13 years of age, is said to often enter the villages and habitats in Mankari in search of food for the past couple of years. Often it devoured and damaged the crops.

A few days ago, the villagers noticed the elephant ailing in the fringed reserve forest area in Mankarai, 25 kilometres from Coimbatore. It was limping while walking and looked quite unwell.

The locals informed the forest officials about its bad condition. A team of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary officials along with a team of doctors headed by Dr. Manoharan, the Forest Veterinarian arrived in the area to see the ailing elephant.

The treatment required the elephant to be brought under control which proved a difficult exercise for the wildlife officials.

The officials first captured the ailing elephant, by taking the services of two "Kumkis" (trained tame elephants). Only after that the required medical treatment could be possible.

Initial medical examination indicated that the elephant had symptoms of profuse salivation, which had caused several infections in the intestinal and respiratory tracks. The elephant also had breathing problems but it gained strength after an oral medication.

It, however, became sick again and turned averse to natural food.

The medicines were camouflaged in rice balls, ragi and horse-grams and administered along with asafoetida, green ginger, pepper, jaggery, salt, garlic and gingili oil, so that the elephant can take it without much problem.

According to Dr. Manoharan, a veterinarian with the Forest Department of Coimbatore, the elephant is being presently treated at Mankarai Rest House and being given antibiotics, B-complex and its supplement liver tonics.

Vitamins and minerals are being injected periodically.

Manoharan said: "Using our Kumkis from Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, we captured this elephant on August 31st and brought it to Mankarai Rest House. From then on, using our Kumkis, it was tied to a tree."

He said: "I am using my Kumkis as male nursing assistants and giving daily treatment to this elephant. He is recovering very fast. In fact, 60 to 70 per cent of its illness and infection has been cured and within next five to seven days it will be totally out of its infection and wounds. Further action will be taken after due consultation with superior officers."

The decision whether this elephant should be sent back to the forest or taken to the elephants' camp would be taken later on.

Local residents, however, want the rouge elephant to be sent to some elephant camp for their safety in future.

"After treatment, the elephant will again come here and trouble us. We are living with family and children; this elephant will definitely disturb us. Some think that this elephant should be taken to the elephants' training camp or some other forest area but not in our neighbouring area," said Chandran, a local resident.

ANI