An injured female wild elephant that stayed put in the waters of the Idamalayar reservoir for the past 45 days, died on Sunday morning. Forest officers who went to feed the elephant in the morning found the elephant lying dead in a shallow portion of the dam.
The elephant discarded by its herd had a serious internal injury on its left foreleg. Since it could not walk, it entered the waters for relief and stayed put there only occasionally coming out for short breaks. It was the adivasis of the area who informed the forest officers about the plight of the elephant.
Since then the forest officers from the Idamalayar range were feeding the elephant because the animal was unable to forage. At least three veterinarians examined the elephant and prescribed medicines. Though the elephant showed some signs of improvement, its condition began deteriorating from Friday.
As the elephant was standing in water at a remote location of the reservoir, there were no way veterinarians and forest officers could sedate it and bring it ashore for treatment. Ferrying cranes and other equipment to the location was a difficult proposition.
Everyday the forest officers travelled by a boat in the morning and evening to feed the elephant with palm fronds and fruits. The carcass was subjected to a post mortem by two forest veterinary officers on Sunday afternoon. By evening it was cremated.
