A wild female elephant with an almost severed trunk has strayed into a farm bordering forest in the eastern region of Ernakulam district. The elephant retreated to the forest on Thursday when a veterinary team reached the spot. The elephant was found at Kuttampuzha village on Wednesday. After the injured, restless pachyderm destroyed standing crops, farmers alerted a nearby forest office. As the trunk is almost severed, the animal could not take food or water. The deep wound was not bleeding. [related-post] In a bid to give treatment for the elephant after administering tranquilizer dart, veterinary surgeons reached the spot on Thursday evening. But, the elephant retreated to the forest, making the job difficult for the forest officials and vet team. The wild elephant with trunk injury can even die from starvation and thirst. Forest officials could not ascertain how the elephant got such severe cut towards the end portion of the trunk. They said the animal might have been attacked by bamboo workers who camp in the forest atop make-shift tree-top sheds. When the elephant lifted its trunk towards the tree-top shed, the workers might have brandished sickle like sharp weapon to escape from its attack. The officials also said the chances of the wound caused from fight with another elephant could not be ruled out. A final assessment could be made only after a close examination of the wound.
