An injured elephant that was spotted in forest fringes of Periyanaickenpalayam last week has moved to Boluvampatty range. The female elephant’s condition has been deteriorating as it is unable to consume food and water owing to puss-filled wound in its mouth.
The elephant, aged around three, was first spotted at forest fringes of Kovanur Periyanaickenpalayam. Though Forest Department officials had attempted to track the elephant after alerted by people, it went missing in the forests. It had strayed from the forest unable to consume water and fodder. “We have managed to locate the injured elephant in Boluvampatty range. Its condition has worsened. Fruits stuffed with medicine have been placed inside the forest in an attempt to bring it back to normal condition,” said District Forest Officer S. Ramasubramanian.
As the injured elephant is part of a six-member herd, forest officials are unable to have a close watch of the animal and render appropriate treatment. Forest officials suspect that the elephant could have accidentally bitten country-made explosive placed inside the forest by poachers to hunt wild boars.
On December 29, Forest Department officials had arrested four persons who hunted a wild boar using country made explosive from Kovanur. The four persons were caught with the hunted wild boar and six country-made explosive. They said the female elephant could have also been attacked by a male elephant with its tusk. The officials ruled out chance of anthrax infection. “The injury does not seem like the one caused by anthrax. Had it been a case of anthrax, the elephant would not have survived this long,” said an official.