The Forest Department has formed a 35-member team to trace a tusker, which was found injured in the Baitarani Reserve Forest under the Champua Forest Range in Keonjhar district four days back.
The department formed team after general people expressed concern over its inaction to trace out and treat the elephant.
Sources said the tusker was straying alone by the side of the Baitarani river near Daduan village under the Joda forest section after being departed from a herd of 30 elephants.
Villagers had observed that the elephant dipping in the Baitarani river and washing his right leg, which had developed septic.
By the time forest officials reached the spot, the jumbo had moved away from the site. Though four days have passed, the officials have been unable to trace the tusker.
Sources said if the team would use drone camera to find out the tusker, if required.
Similarly, the jumbo may be tranquilised, if required, for treatment.
Earlier, the Forest Department officials had taken help of Dr Madhav Chowdhury for the treatment of the septic portion of the tusker.
He had suggested for an expert service available in Nandakanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar to apply tranquiliser to the elephant so that the medicine can be administered.