Elephant with ‘gunshot wound’ spotted in Telkoi forest in Odisha, locals express concerns

A female elephant, reportedly injured by a gunshot, was spotted wandering in the forests of Telkoi under the Bimala Forest Beat in Purusottampur’s Thengiri Taila area of Ganjam district.

The elephant has sustained bullet wounds on its front left and rear right legs, and its condition has been deteriorating over the past few days.

Although forest personnel have been monitoring the animal, no medical aid has been provided so far, local residents alleged. Residents suspect the elephant was shot at, and have expressed concern over the Forest Department’s inaction, fearing for the animal’s survival.

Herd Movement and Crop Damage

As per reports, a herd of 44 elephants has been moving through nearby forest regions, causing considerable damage to crops. Villagers allege that in retaliation, someone may have shot the female elephant. The injured animal was reportedly first spotted two days ago. Though forest officials are monitoring its condition, tranquilisation or the subsequent medication process is yet to be taken up.

Challenges in Treatment

According to sources, the elephant tends to flee deeper into the forest upon sighting forest staff, making tranquilisation and treatment difficult. It is also alleged that the animal is wandering without food or water, adding to the gravity of the situation. Officials are currently tracking the elephant’s movements through drone surveillance.

Experts on Standby, But No Action Yet

A veterinarian from the Wildlife Trust of India, along with an elephant expert, is stationed in Odisha's Keonjhar to handle such cases, as the region is home to a large population of elephants. 

The Keonjhar Forest Division hosts over 150 elephants, with around 60 in the Telkoi division alone. While a medical team is expected to provide treatment, villagers remain alarmed that, despite two days passing, no concrete steps have been taken by the Forest Department to address the elephant’s critical condition.

The incident has highlighted both the human–elephant conflict triggered by crop damage and the urgent need for timely intervention to save the wounded pachyderm.