Injured elephant still lying

An elephant, badly injured while getting down from a truck on July 14 night, is still lying in a field at Ishobpur beside Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Srimangal upazila of Moulvibazar.

The accident occurred due to alleged negligence of the men of the circus party that had rented it for a show.

“We are trying to treat the elephant with necessary medicines. But it will take time to recover,” Dr Md Ariful Islam, veterinary surgeon of Srimangal upazila livestock department.

“We have limitation as there is no X-ray facility for animals in Srimangal livestock department and Lawacherra Wildlife Rescue Centre.

“If X-rays could be done, it would help to properly identify the problem and provide the required treatment,” he said.

Sirajul Islam, owner of the elephant, said he rents the animal to circus parties in different areas.

“A circus group took this elephant named Rajlakkhi on a truck and brought it to Srimangal from Brahmanbaria after a show on July 14 night.

“As it was getting down from the truck at Isobpur, the vehicle started before the elephant could land its four legs on the ground. The elephant suddenly fell down and its right leg and waist got badly injured.

“After the incident, the circus group members fled from the spot and their mobiles remained switched off,” he added.

Visiting the spot yesterday, this correspondent found the injured elephant trying to move but it was too weak to get up.

The 35-year-old elephant weighing three tonnes is showing a little improvement as doctors are applying allopathic medicines along with herbal medicines, Sirajul Islam said.

Experienced mahouts Abbas Miah and Khursed Mia said they are hopeful of its recovery as its movement increased yesterday.

“We are trying our best to treat the elephant,” said Tabibur Rahman, assistant conservator of forest of Wildlife Management and Nature Preservation Department. 

Tofazzal Sohel, central committee member of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, said Lawacherra Wildlife Rescue Centre in Moulvibazar's Kamalganj upazila, the only wildlife treatment centre in the region, is running without any veterinary surgeon, nurses and adequate equipment to give ordinary treatment to injured animals, let alone perform critical surgeries.

Mihir Kumar Doe, divisional forest officer of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, said he has written to the higher authorities to appoint required manpower at the rescue centre immediately.