Even after almost an entire day passed since elephant calf Mahadevan died due to internal injuries at the Forest department’s Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, officials are waiting for a veterinary surgeon to examine the body. For officials in Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, this is nothing surprising as they are witnessing this apathy of the department for the past several years.
The one year old Mahadevan was brought to Kodanad Elephant Training Centre after he was rescued from a poacher’s trap in Kuttampuzha. The elephant was sick and was under going medical treatment and it survived the last several months under the care of forest officials in Kodanad. “His condition became critical in the last two days and he died by 10.30 am on Saturday”, forest officials said.
But the disturbing part for the people who had been taking care of Mahadevan is that they have to wait at least one or two days to the know the reason of the death, following which he can be cremated as per the rituals. “We tried to contact the veterinary surgeon in Konni for examining the body, but there is no response till evening. ‘‘We expect that the surgeon may come the next day. But since it is Sunday tomorrow, the surgeon might arrive only by Monday. ‘‘We have elephants and deer here. In case of death or serious medical check-up of animals, the doctor has to come from Konni. There is only one doctor in Konni to look after such cases in Pathanmathitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts”, the forest officials said.
B N Nagaraj, the divisional forest officer of the Malayatoor who is the in-charge of the Kodanad Elephant Training Center, said that they are trying their best to bring in doctors for conducting the examination. “We asked for private doctors soon after the incident, but none of them turned up. ‘‘However, we are looking to bring in a doctor from Konni as soon as possible”, the divisional forest officer said. ‘‘Another two and half year old she-calf, Ganga is also under going medical treatment after she suffered a fracture in her leg. “Ganga has been lying down for last several weeks. We will remove the plasters from her leg next week and hope that she would be fine soon”, Nagaraj said.