Second tragedy in a week: Tranquillized elephant calf in Kannur dies

IRITTY: An injured wild elephant calf that was tranquilized by forest officials in Kannur died late Wednesday night. The elephant that trespassed into a residential area in Karikkottakary was tranquilized by a team from the Forest Department. The team, led by Veterinary Doctor Ajeesh Mohandas, administered the tranquilizer. The elephant was spotted in the Karikkottakary area earlier this morning with a wound on its lower chin. The injury was serious.

The three-year-old calf collapsed to death while officials tried to take it to the treatment center.

The elephant calf first reached Ayyankunnu and Aralam village panchayats on Tuesday night. The little jumbo ran and strutted into several neighbouring areas and later reached Karikkottakary in a fatigued state. Dr Ajesh Mohandas, a veterinarian who came from Wayanad, administered the drug shot at 7 pm. Considering the physical condition, a small amount of medicine was used for shooting.

Immediately after getting shot, the elephant ran straight towards the forest officials but soon became exhausted and went near a rubber plantation. First aid was given by tying ropes around the legs and neck of the exhausted pachyderm. After some laborious work, the elephant was made to enter a lorry.

However, just moments after it entered the lorry, the elephant collapsed, putting many of the onlookers in gloom. The death happened soon after the lorry reached the RRT camp in Aralam. Last week, another injured wild tusker died in Chalakudy moments after the forest officials tranquilized it for treatment.