A tusker from the Similipal sanctuary that had strayed into the Mayurbhanj district headquarters town of Baripada on January 13 and sustained injuries is now recovering after being treated by a team of veterinarians from the Nandankanan Zoological Park.
The elephant had sustained injuries on its front left leg. Initially, it was suspected that the injuries could have been due to some metal nails, shards of glass or arrow getting stuck in it. The veterinarians who had been requisitioned to the Similipal sanctuary for its treatment first checked the tusker’s paw with a metal detector after tranquilising it. But the metal detector found no metals. The veterinarians drained out the pus and dressed the wounds before administering antibiotics. The jumbo’s condition has improved.
The elephant was brought under control after it was administered two shots of tranquilisers. The veterinarians have advised Forest Department officials to keep the elephant under watch for a few days and administer antibiotics.