Elephant with head injury captured in Athirappilly, treatment underway

Thrissur: An elephant with a head injury was tranquilised in Athirappilly by Chief Veterinary Surgeon Dr Arun Zachariah. The tranquilisation took place in the first block of the Plantation Corporation’s rubber estate in Athirappilly. The procedure was conducted after separating the injured elephant from two other elephants it was accompanying.

Once the elephant began to fall into sedation, it was observed for half an hour before initiating treatment. Forest department doctors will examine how the injury occurred before proceeding with the treatment. To determine if the wound was caused by a gunshot, the forest department has arranged scanning equipment to detect any metallic fragments in the body. Dr Arun Zachariah had previously stated that this would help confirm the cause of the injury. The forest department also suspects that the injury might have been caused by a tusk wound during a fight with other elephants.

The injured elephant was found on Friday morning near Vettilappara 14, alongside two other elephants. Pus was seen oozing from the wound on its head.

DFO R Lakshmi stated that the rescue operation resumed early on Friday to capture the elephant safely.

The elephant had entered the forest on Wednesday afternoon during a search operation led by Dr Arun Zachariah. While preparations were being made to administer a tranquiliser shot, the elephant retreated deeper into the forest.

In response, the 20-member team was expanded to 50 members on Thursday. Despite hours of searching on the second day, the elephant could not be located. Search efforts were carried out in areas including Kalady Plantation’s first, third, and seventeenth blocks, Thadimuri, Vadamuri, Factory Division, Cashew Plantation, Elichan, and Parayanpara. Drones were also deployed, but the elephant remained untraceable.