A wild, female elephant died a week after receiving bullet injuries in Nagarahole National Park range. Courtesy: The laxity of  forest department officials in providing medical treatment.
The ill-fated jumbo was shot in its forelegs, apparently by an agriculturist for straying into farm land, in Devaraj Urs Hosakatte in Nagarahole forest range on January 2. But veterinary doctors arrived only three days later to treat the wounded elephant, according to Institute of Natural Resource Conservation, Education, Research and Training (INCERT).
And the doctors did precious little to save the animal. They provided drinking water and tried to make the elephant stand up, but was in vain.
Then they gave up their efforts, stating that the forelegs were swollen and gangrene had set in, while the elephant was writhing in pain, INCERT stated in a release.
On January 7, the animal had died before INCERT team could reach the place, the release added.
It was further said that the post of veterinary doctor in Nagarahole forest range has been vacant for the last six months, and the doctors who attended the animal were from Mysore zoo. This was the reason the forest department officials took three days to bring the doctors, the release stated.
“Though the forest department has dug up elephant proof trenches and fenced the national park with solar electric power, they are in utter state of neglect. Hence, the wild elephant strayed into agricultural fields,” INCERT
noted.