Foresters operate on tusker in wild

The wildlife wing of the state forest department Tuesday carried out a critical surgical operation and provided medical treatment to a full grown male elephant in the wild on a forest tract of Bishnupur in Bankura district. The tusker was tranquillized and operated on after it was found moving with festering wounds for the past few days.

The medical intervention lasted for about an hour during which the animal —- 9.2 ft tall and with tusks measuring 120 cm —- remained sedated. However,the animal remained standing and three doctors from Bankura and Burdwan climbed up a ladder to reach up to its back and treat the wounds. The entire operation was supervised by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) Kalyan Das and tranquillizer expert Subrata Pal Choudhury. Divisional Forest Officer,Panchet,Kumar Bimal was also present.

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Later,Kalyan Das said that some villagers who found the elephant limping,informed the local forest beat office at Bishnupur. The wildlife wing then decided to give medical relief to the animal in the wild. He said that the animal may have sustained injuries when locals use sharp instruments to away the elephant herds straying into villages. The forest staff have been directed to keep a watch on the elephant’s movement for the next few days,Das said.