Chhattisgarh: Elephant calf with broken back dies after 15 days of agony

RAIPUR: An elephant calf that was being treated for a broken spine for a fortnight, died of its injuries in Jashpur district on Tuesday.
The four-year-old had fallen from a hill while moving with the herd in the forests of Kunkuri region on November 29. The 15-ft drop broke its back. The herd moved on as the calf couldn't get up on its feet.
When villagers saw the calf in agony, they informed the forest department and a team rescued it. The calf was shifted to Kansabel forest range nursery for treatment.
Despite the vets' best efforts, the condition of the calf kept deteriorating and eventually it suffered complete paralysis of two of its legs, leaving no hope of recovery, said officials.
On Tuesday morning, the calf died a painful death after suffering for more than a fortnight.
Two days ago, wildlife enthusiast Nitin Singhvi had alleged that the forest department tried to "conceal details of the treatment" they were providing to the calf. "Moreover, when the forest department was aware that the calf wouldn't survive, then why was it put through so much suffering? The animal could have died a less painful death by being euthanized. I had written about a week ago, requesting the department to euthanize the calf, but no action was taken," Singhvi said, adding that the calf had developed sores on its body, which would have led to further infection and more pain.
This isn't the first controversy over alleged insensitivity in dealing with an injured elephant calf in Jashpur.
In September this year, a month-old baby elephant that got separated from its herd and disowned, was turned into a freak show by villagers for several days until it was brought under the 'care' of the forest department in the same district. There were allegations that the calf was mistreated and videos had emerged showing the traumatized calf being mistreated by villagers at a time when the forest department was claiming it had been reunited with its herd. The little giant had several injuries that weren't there earlier.
Wildlife activists had raised concerns over its health and criticized the way the calf was being treated.
In October, a year-old elephant was killed by locals of Bania village in Katghora forest range and buried in a field as revenge for an elephant attack and inaction of forest department. The calf was electrocuted.