Sick jumbo back on feet after two days of treatment in Kovai

This has given hope that the elephant will survive. Forest Department officials said that it will be monitored thoughout the night. The 35-year-old female elephant was spotted lying down in a weak condition on a patta land near the Periya Thadagam reserve forest area. 

On information from local residents on Wednesday, a team of forest officials and veterinarians rushed to the spot and started treating the animal. The team continued its mission till evening, but had to retreat as the sick elephant’s herd came to the spot and tried to attack them. Explaining the treatment being given to the pachyderm, the team members said that it was administered with saline water. Medicines for stomach problems were also given, besides antibiotics. Its stomach was also cleansed. 

In between, the jumbo was also fed with jaggery, ragi balls, fodder, bananas and sugarcane. Water was also poured on its body to keep its body cool. Team members said that while there was no injury on its body, it appeared to be suffering from constipation from Wednesday. 

A tent was put up around the elephant as a measure to protect it from dehydration. The elephant initially acted rude, when the team went close to it to give treatment. 

But on Thursday, the staff somehow managed to reach the jumbo and treat it physically, District Forest Officer S. Ramasubramanian said and added that the elephant rolled when it once tried to stand up on its feet. 

Veterinarians were worried that if the animal continued to lie on one side blood circulation might be affected. Some experts opined once a pachyderm falls due to ailment, ‘reviving’ it would be a remote possibility. 

In another incident, an elephant calf, appearing to be just 10 days old, was rescued by forest officials in Sirumugai region recently. 

After being under the care of the foresters, the calf has now started moving inside an exclusive enclosure created for it at the Theppakadu camp of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, in The Nilgiris. As a precautionary measure, the calf was being kept away from other adult jumbos at the camp. 

Officials said that the calf would have to be under their watch at least for two more weeks.