Tusker found with gunshots at Athagarh forest division gives up battle for life

The pachyderm which was found with gunshot wounds near a rivulet in Narasinghapur forest range under Athgarh forest division in Cuttack district succumbed to its injuries on Tuesday. After battling for eight days, the tusker gave up battle for life.

Expert doctors belonging to Satakosia Tiger Reserve, Nandankanan Zoological Park and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology were treating the ailing pachyderm at Narasinghapur forest. However, their efforts to give a new lease of life to the animal yielded no results. 

The tusker was writhing in severe pain caused by gunshots for which it had stopped eating anything. 

PCCF Sashi Paul had earlier informed mediapersons that the elephant was shot from a country-made gun and had gunshot injuries on its leg, trunk, shoulder, body and ear. And the wounds it had received are of 15 days old. It was a target attack. Due to the gunshots, the elephant had developed septicaemia on its right leg. It was being administered antibiotic through drips for its speedy recovery.  Some forest officials were engaged to keep a tab on the elephant during night. The pachyderm had later become feeble due to septicaemia.