Medication continues for ailing tusker near Coimbatore

Forest Department treats ailing male wild elephant near Sirumugai in Coimbatore district, providing antibiotics, pain killers, and care.

The Forest Department on Wednesday continued treatment for an ailing male wild elephant that was found near forest boundary at Koothamandi near Sirumugai in Coimbatore district on Tuesday.

The elephant, according to the department, moved around 300 metres and entered the reserve forest area of Sirumugai range on Wednesday. The tusker fed on fruits, which were stuffed with antibiotics and pain killers.

The staff monitored the elephant as it moved 100 metres further and drank water from a pond in the forest. The staff also provided fodder for the elephant based on the advice of veterinarians.

Veterinarians believe that the elephant could be aged around 17. They examined the dung boluses of the tusker, which were comparatively smaller in size. The animal also did not move from the spot when staff attempted to drive it back to the forest on Tuesday.

Since the elephant is not having visible external injuries, veterinarians suspect that the animal could have been suffering from a disease or dehydration.

An official said that a team of frontline staff will continue to monitor the elephant.