A severely dehydrated female elephant was found lying at Chikkalahalli in Sangama Forest Range near Sathanur in Ramanagaram district on Thursday.
The 15-year-old elephant, which is said to be suffering from heat stroke, could have entered the village from the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in search of water and fodder, officials of the Department of Forests said.
The area is connected to elephant corridors of Savanadurga, Bannerghatta and Dhanagur in Karnataka, and Krishnagiri and Hosur forest ranges of Tamil Nadu.
ADVERTISEMENT
A majority of the lakes, streams and other waterbodies along these elephant corridors have gone dry owing to deficient rainfall last year as well as because of the scorching summer heat. While the Cauvery has turned into a stream, its tributaries have all dried up.
A senior officer in the department told The Hindu that elephants have been severely affected by the heat and are desperately searching for fodder and water. The female elephant might have got separated from its herd recently, he said, and added that it collapsed at Chikkalahalli on Wednesday night. No injuries were found on the elephant, but its condition is critical, he said.
The elephant was noticed by some villagers early on Thursday, and the department was informed about it. However, alleging delay in sending a rescue team to the village, the residents staged a protest against the department.
ADVERTISEMENT
A team of forest personnel, including veterinarians, are attending to the elephant. A pandal was erected and the animal was drenched in water many times. In spite of such measures and even after being provided energy-rich fluids, the elephant it did not try to stand up, the officer said.
“We are taking utmost care to save it,” he said.
Upon its recovery, the elephant would be shifted to a camp or Bannerghatta National Park or it would allowed to return to the forests, he said.