Bullet-hit elephant dies

The critically wounded elephant, rescued from the Kaptai Lake on October 22, finally died on Sunday after fighting life for life for 12 days under treatment of a five-member veterinary medical team.

After rescue of the wild elephant by Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) South Forest Division, a five-member medical team led by Dr Bhajon Chandra Das, associate professor of Chittagong Veterinary University, was formed to provide it necessary medical treatment.

"After rescue of the half-dead wild elephant from the Kaptai Lake, we found several injury marks on its body. Later, we identified signs of bullet injuries on its neck and head. Despite being critically wounded, the 20-year-old animal struggled for life for 12 days," said Shamsul Azam, divisional forest officer of CHT South Forest Division, also member secretary of the five-member medical team.

"After our treatment, it gained a little strength and could stand up on its own. We spent more than Tk 1 lakh and put all our efforts to save the animal. But we failed to feed it anything despite trying for 12 days and it finally died. We have formed an inquiry team to trace out who shot the giant mammal so that legal action can be taken against the culprits," he said.

This wild elephant, rescued with serious bullet injuries from the Kaptai Lake in Rangamati on October 22, died on Sunday, foiling all attempts of a five-member veterinary medical team. PHOTO: STAR

The forest department on Monday conducted post mortem of the elephant at Suknachhari forest beat station.

The forest officials arranged burial of the dead elephant after removing its ivory.

Skeletons and bones will be collected after decomposition of body within three months, and those will be kept in the museum for display, said officials.