Jumbo efforts

Elephant hit by train, rescued in Uttarkhand::

A rescue operation on a wild elephant was carried out successfully in Tanda Range forest in Uttarakhand. A team of veterinary doctors from the G. B. Pant University and Corbett Tiger Reserve along with the Tarai Central Forest Division rescued a tusker hit by a speeding train which fractured its leg. Forest officials took over three hours to control the elephant by tranquilizing it. For the first time, an X-ray machine was used in a forest rescue mission.

"It is for the first time in the country that an operation was carried using X-ray machine in forest area. This is also the biggest operation carried out on an elephant since the time it was named as a national heritage animal. We are hoping that the elephant continues to live a healthy life," said Parag Madhugar, Divisional Forest Officer, Tarai Central Forest Division. Gautam Bhalla, a veterinary doctor at Corbett National Park, said he was happy with the way the rescue was carried out. "I feel this is a very successful attempt and it was a joint operation along with Forest Department along with human medical facilities, veterinary facilities, all from G. B. Pant University and Corbett Tiger Reserve," said Bhalla. "It was quite difficult because we did not know what was the condition of the animal, to what was prevailing in the animal. Definitely, a train hit him but we could not have a proper diagnosis. It took us a long time to conduct the operation," he added. The Tarai Central Forest Division is also planning to take action against the train driver who was responsible for hitting the elephant.