Sick elephant back on feet, eats on its own

A Forest department sources said that the jumbo had grown weak as it had not eaten properly for the last three days when it was under treatment. Since Wednesday morning, the food and water intake was limited as the elephant was not able to stand up. While it was also suspected that it could have suffered a leg injury, it was ruled out on Saturday. 

With minimal treatment, from Saturday afternoon the elephant started roaming about the camp. It had food without the help of forest personnel. Ragi balls with jaggery, bananas, sugarcane and fodder were given. The elephant also cooperated well when the department staff massaged its left legs on which it rested on the ground for the past three days. 

“It is a positive sign. The elephant is recovering well as it could manage to stand up for more number of hours,” said a forest officer. The jumbo would be observed for a few more days before a decision was taken on the future course of action. Forest officials were mulling on the options either to train and retain it in the camp or release it in the wild. However, wildlife activists felt that the animal should be released in the natural habitat. The elephant was first spotted ill at a private land near the forest at Periya Thadagam on Wednesday. With two days of treatment, the jumbo stood up on its feet assisted by an earth mover on Thursday night and tried to join the herd waiting for it.

However, on Friday morning, it was once again found ill close to the same place. Following which the jumbo was shifted to Chadivayal camp for further treatment.

A lone wild elephant frightened a tea estate worker to death here late on Friday night. C. Eswari (53) who heard a knock on her door was shocked to see a wild jumbo in front of her house. She ran away to the bedroom fearing for her life. A little later the villagers found her dead on the cot without any external injuries. They protested and demanded compensation of Rs 3 lakh as the elephant had frightened her to death. 

Forest officers said that the jumbo was attracted by the guava trees in the quarters, it left after damaging a few guava trees. Villagers who tried to chase it way ran back as it was agitated. Around 2 am the villagers went to Eswari’s house to check on her and found her dead on the cot. The police said that she did not suffer any external injury. Eswari worked in the tea estate of Sirukunda Lower Division in Valparai near Pollachi and stayed in the quarters. 

On Thursday her husband took ill and was admitted to the Valparai GH. Their son lived in Coimbatore with his family leaving her alone in the house on Friday night.