In a rare display of humanitarian and conservation spirit, locals of Dhobonisole village near Betnotti Range under Baripada Forest Division in Odisha recently saved two ailing elephants, who were deserted by their herd.
The villagers’ exemplary act was more noteworthy since the two jumbos belonged to the same migratory herd, which had given them a tough time while moving across the forests and their villages from Dalma Reserve in Jharkhand. The villagers found these two elephants, including a calf, who was in a critical state. Taking charge of the two abandoned elephants, the villagers intimated the Forest Department on time to ensure their survival.
The two were initially being treated at a local veterinary hospital. However, one had to be shifted to the veterinary hospital attached to Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, for better treatment. “One of the discarded jumbo was a four or five-month-old calf and the other an adult female elephant,” said Sanjay Kumar Swain, DFO, Baripada. They were found in a critical state by the locals at the Dhobonisole Reserve Forest, in Betnotti Range.
It was observed that though the herd was still in the same forest range, it was maintaining distance from the two. The calf was found to be very weak, it could barely get up. The villagers even tried to feed the calf with milk and also informed the local range office. The calf was suffering due to lack of food and was severely dehydrated. It was administered glucose. The other elephant was also in poor health and found to be suffering from calcium deficiency. It was put on calcium solution.
“It is true that we are on tenterhooks by migrating wild herd. Few homes and paddy fields have also been partially damaged, but we could not let the two sick elephants die,” said Anil Sahoo from Dhobonisole village. “Thanks to the timely intimation of the villagers to the Range Office that we could intervene and take action in time,” admitted Basant Kumar Mohanty, Range officer.
“Though the social structure of pachyderms is known to be very strong, wild herds have been found to discard their members that are weak or not in good health. This is probably because the migratory journeys of the jumbos are fairly long, lasting for days. Such sick members are believed to be lacking in strength and thus left to themselves,” said Anup Naik, RCCF Baripada Forest Division. However, we will try to get the abandoned elephants assimilate into the herd after their treatment, he said.
Vanoomitra Acharya, (Honorary) Wildlife Warden, Mayurbhanj, stressed on the immediate need for a Wildlife Rescue Centre in the region to deal with such cases. This area is dedicated to Project Tiger (Simlipal Tiger Reserve) and is also an elephant habitat. Three elephants in similar cases of abandonment by herd have died due to lack of proper/timely treatment during the past one year. Hence, trained veterinary doctors with knowledge on wildlife rescue operations are necessary. The doctors in these local/ordinary veterinary hospitals are barely trained to treat domestic animals and livestock, he said.