Elephant stuck in slush in Malanagakere dies after two-day struggle

As it was struggling, forest staff could not go near it as they were unsure of its behaviour. 
The elephant which died at Malanagakere in Periyapatna taluk on Thursday | Express
The elephant which died at Malanagakere in Periyapatna taluk on Thursday | Express

MYSURU : An 18-year-old male elephant which was stuck in slush for the last two days at Malanagakere Haadi near Bylakuppe in Periyapatna taluk has died.


Though the forest officials had summoned a veterinary doctor, Umashankar from Tumakuru, he could not do much as the elephant was found dead on Thursday morning.


ACF Somappa and RFO Girish claimed that they visited spot and even advised the staff to burst crackers to see that the jumbo would get scared and come out of the slush. But the animal could not move as it was stuck in the pond.


The forest officials could not go near the elephant as they were not sure of its behaviour. 
When they decided to bring in tame Dasara elephants to join in the rescue operation, the forest guards found it dead and all they could do was to remove the carcass.


Forest personnel drew a lot of ire over the death of the jumbo from elected representatives and public who demanded a probe into the incident and suspension of the Range Forest Officer for failing to rescue the animal. 


People alleged that the elephant had been stuck in the slush for four days and no senior officer turned up at the spot.
“Forest officials claim that it had injuries in its legs. Then why did they not pull it out from the water to treat the wound?” they said.


“If forest personnel can bring in experts to save the elephant Sidda in Ramangara why did they fail to do the same in this case?” asked Shivanna, a local resident.
Taluk panchayat member Ramu accused RFO Girish of negligence and demanded an inquiry into the incident.


He said that they found slush in the intestine of elephant as it was stranded inside the pond for more than four days. 
Veterinary doctor Umashankar conducted post-mortem and has sent a few vital organs for test.

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