Cruelty caught on camera: Limping elephant’s 95-km trek in Assam sparks public outrage

A heart-wrenching video of a 48-year-old injured pet elephant named Maniki limping along an Assam highway has gone viral, triggering widespread public anger and urgent action from forest officials.

The footage shows Maniki’s left front leg badly bent as she struggles to walk, a mahout perched on her back. Despite clear forest department orders to transport her by truck, she was being made to trek nearly 95 km from Kakopathar in Tinsukia to Dibrugarh for treatment.

A Painful Journey

Mahout Pradeep Moran revealed that the ordeal began six days earlier, with the elephant covering just 36 km before reaching Makum. Local resident Krishna Majhi offered shelter on August 6, ending her exhausting march.

Maniki’s injury dates back two years to Arunachal Pradesh, when a heavy log fell on her leg. Though treated at the time, the fracture never healed properly, leaving her with a permanent limp. Her health recently deteriorated, requiring specialised care.

Swift Intervention

After the video went viral, a joint team of district officials, forest staff, medical experts, and activists rushed to Makum. Maniki received immediate medication, and officials ordered her to rest for three days. Plans to send her to Dibrugarh have been scrapped; instead, she will be taken by truck to Kaziranga or Guwahati for advanced treatment.

Authorities have warned of action against her owner, Ruchi Chetia, for violating welfare guidelines. The incident has sparked renewed calls for strict enforcement of animal protection laws in the region.

For now, Maniki is finally resting but her story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for compassion and proper care for India’s gentle giants.