Rescue Operation for Injured Elephant in Raimona National Park
Elephant Rescued from Snare Trap
Snare traps are lethal hunting devices that can cause severe lacerations, tissue damage, fractures, prolonged suffering, and may ultimately lead to death
Guwahati, Sept 11: A female elephant encountered a life-threatening situation after her trunk was ensnared in a dangerous trap within Raimona National Park.
This approximately 25-year-old elephant was first observed on September 1 near the Daogen Gonthong anti-poaching camp, located in the Sanfan Range of the Kachugaon Forest Division, close to the Indo-Bhutan border, accompanied by her calf.
Forest officials at the camp promptly began monitoring her movements in the days that followed to strategize a safe rescue.
On September 7, the elephant was spotted again near the camp, leading to the quick mobilization of a veterinary team. This team included specialists such as Dr. Prabhat Basumatary from Manas Tiger Reserve, Dr. Daoharu Baro from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and Dr. Pankaj Chakraborty from the State Veterinary Dispensary, Gossaigaon, with the forest team led by Biswajit Basumatary, FRO of Sanfan Range.
The team successfully immobilized the elephant to conduct a thorough examination, completing the entire process in about 30 minutes before safely guiding her back into the forest.
Post-rescue, forest officials will continue to monitor the elephant's recovery closely in the upcoming days.
Snare traps pose significant dangers, causing severe injuries, tissue damage, and potentially leading to death if the animal cannot escape or receive timely medical attention.
“The elephant suffered a deep cut on her trunk due to the tightly wound wire snare, resulting in considerable soft-tissue damage and pus discharge. We carefully extracted the wire, cleaned the wound, removed necrotic tissue, applied antiseptic dressing, and managed the wound appropriately,” explained Dr. Daoharu Baro.
Mustafizur Ali Ahmed, DFO of Kachugaon Forest Division, praised the team's swift action and expertise in ensuring the elephant received prompt medical care.
“This operation was quite challenging, as our personnel had been searching for the injured elephant since the initial sighting. Ultimately, the rescue and treatment were successfully executed. It is likely that she encountered the snare in the surrounding areas. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation and implementing measures to prevent future incidents,” he added.
Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), founded in 1998, is dedicated to conserving nature, particularly endangered species and threatened habitats, in collaboration with communities and governmental bodies.
Over its 27 years of operation, WTI has rescued over 57,000 animals, prevented more than 2,000 potential elephant accidents, trained and equipped 24,000 frontline forest staff, and assisted the government in securing seven wildlife corridors.
Additionally, it has educated 37 lakh children about conservation, protected nearly 1,200 sq km of natural habitats, including mangroves and coral reefs, and supported enforcement agencies in tackling wildlife crimes.