Relation between people in civilised society may be at its lowest ebb. But in Tamil Nadu wild animals, especially wild elephants, live in harmony with human beings who are their neighbours. The Pioneer had reported recently about Ganeshan, an injured and incapacitated 55-year-old wild elephant in Cherambady forests in Ootty district being taken care of by the forest authorities and locals.
N S Manoharan, veterinary surgeon of the forest department is attending to Gansehan, who suffered injuries on his right forelimb making it difficult for him to walk and even to stand. “Since we started the treatment on Thursday, Ganeshan is in a jovial mood. He has started taking his favourite ragi balls and boiled rice along with medicine. He is convalescing fast,” said G Ramakrishnan, Forest Ranger, Gudalur on Sunday.
But an interesting development involving another wild elephant has taken place in neighbouring Coimbatore district. The protagonist is a wild tusker who suffered injuries in a fight with another tusker deep inside the forest. A senior forest official in Coimbatore said that the 25-year-old elephant has deep injuries on his body and is weak to move around,” said the official.
It is believed that he was part of a herd of elephants making their nocturnal rounds in the agricultural fields abutting Mankarai forests. Though his colleagues left him and went back to their safe havens, he could not move because of injuries.
“The injured elephant was consuming herbs found in the forest. It is their natural way of attending to ailments and injuries. But the herbs in the forest is yet to make any improvement in its health and that’s why it is seeking outside assistance,” said the official.
He said the elephant is fed with rice balls, banana leaves and fruits stuffed with anti biotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and multi vitamin tablets and since then it is showing signs of recovery. “Since this is the first time the tusker is interacting with the outside world, he is suspicious about our movements. But we are trying to get into his confidence so that he consumes whatever we offer,” said the official. Interestingly, Manoharan, the veterinary surgeon attending to Ganeshan at Gudalur is taking care of the new comer from the woods.
“In Tamil Nadu, wild animals are living in harmony with human beings though we cannot tell the same about the civilised world in the State,” said S Kotteesearan, wild life expert and writer. He said it is not advisable to send medical aid to wild animals. “We should allow the nature to take its own course. “The death of wild animals due to infighting, injuries, or sickness developed in the forests would help the other species of wildlife,” said Kotteeswaran.