The injured wild elephant which is under the custody of the Athagarh Forest officials after treatment is not getting enough food though the officials have shown the expenses on its fodder running to over a lakh of rupees since its stay with them.
The pachyderm was rescued about three weeks ago near Karadapalli village under Tigiria block. It was first spotted by the villagers and on a tip-off, the Forest officials had rescued it with the help of the local police and fire brigade personnel. It was roaming isolated with several injury marks. Since then it was sheltered at the Athagarh Forest Office campus.
It was given treatment by the local veterinary surgeons, but later the OUAT monitored the treatment with veterinary surgeons from Bhubaneswar. The condition of the wild guest has improved and the wounds have healed by now. The elephant has been tied in iron chains to a huge mango tree.
But the problem of the jumbo is hunger at present. When this reporter reached the Forest office campus on Tuesday morning, it was seen trumpeting and restless out of hunger. Its caretakers said the elephant was fed with only 20-30 sugarcane plants and 5-7 banana trees besides some bamboo leaves per day. But it was too inadequate and the officials need to look into the issue, opined some wild lovers here. When contacted, the local DFO declined to comment.