In the dense Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, a young wild elephant was badly hurt after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED). According to officials, the 10‑ to 12‑year‑old female suffered a severe injury on her right foreleg, with parts of her foot blown off and deep gashes still hanging.
Local villagers first spotted the elephant in pain and unable to walk. A quick response followed, with a joint team from the Forest Department and veterinarians arriving Monday morning. After nearly four hours of careful work, they reached the animal and began first aid.
Veterinarian Dr. Sanjay Kumar, who led the effort, said the elephant was treated with antibiotics, painkillers and anti‑inflammatory drugs. “Her condition remains critical, but we are doing everything possible to stabilize her and move her to a safer area for continued care,” he added.
The wildlife team fed the elephant a banana‑based mixture laced with sedatives and antibiotics, which the animal accepted. Forest guards kept tight watch on her to prevent infection and to monitor her movements around the camp.
Officials believe the blast was caused by an IED planted by Maoists, who have long targeted security forces in the Saranda forest—an area known as a Maoist stronghold. This is not the first time an elephant has fallen victim to such explosives. On July 5, a six‑year‑old elephant called “Gadru” by villagers died after sustaining injuries in a blast on June 24, despite rescue efforts by a Gujarat‑based veterinary group.
The senior forest officer urged all agencies to coordinate better efforts to detect and defuse IEDs in forested areas, stressing that wildlife safety and human security must go hand in hand.
Source: ianslive
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