The lone tusker ‘Bahubali’, often spotted in and around the Mettupalayam-Nilgiris region, recently suffered a tail injury during a clash with another wild elephant. Forest veterinary teams are continuing to monitor the tusker, with officials saying the injury is gradually healing.
Mettupalayam: A wild elephant popularly known as “Bahubali”, frequently spotted along the Mettupalayam-Nilgiris stretch, sustained a tail injury during a clash with another wild elephant about a week ago. Forest officials said the injury is gradually healing and the tusker remains under veterinary observation.
Forest personnel led by Mettupalayam Forest Ranger Sasikumar alerted District Forest Officer Venkatesh Prabhu after learning about the injury. A veterinary team headed by forest veterinarian Dr. Vijayraghavan subsequently began monitoring the elephant and providing treatment.
Officials placed medicines, including immune-boosting drugs and tablets intended to aid wound healing, inside food balls preferred by the elephant along its movement routes. The elephant consumed the medicated food, officials said.
About a week after the injury, Bahubali was spotted on the Mettupalayam road on Tuesday night, drawing the attention of local residents, who said they were relieved to see the tusker appearing to be in good health.
District Forest Officer Venkatesh Prabhu said two other elephants were also recently seen moving with Baahubali. He said the injury to its tail was gradually healing and that the veterinary team would continue monitoring the animal until it fully recovers.
Bahubali has been regularly spotted for several years in and around Mettupalayam and areas including Thekkampatti, Thasampalayam, Nellithurai, Odandurai, Balapatti, Vachinampalayam, Sirumugai and Lingapuram.
The tusker usually remains in dense forest areas during the day and moves into farmlands adjoining the forest at night, where it has been damaging crops. Though the elephant has not attacked or attempted to attack people so far, its frequent presence in agricultural fields has remained a concern for farmers.
Forest personnel led by Mettupalayam Forest Ranger Sasikumar alerted District Forest Officer Venkatesh Prabhu after learning about the injury. A veterinary team headed by forest veterinarian Dr. Vijayraghavan subsequently began monitoring the elephant and providing treatment.
Officials placed medicines, including immune-boosting drugs and tablets intended to aid wound healing, inside food balls preferred by the elephant along its movement routes. The elephant consumed the medicated food, officials said.
About a week after the injury, Bahubali was spotted on the Mettupalayam road on Tuesday night, drawing the attention of local residents, who said they were relieved to see the tusker appearing to be in good health.
District Forest Officer Venkatesh Prabhu said two other elephants were also recently seen moving with Baahubali. He said the injury to its tail was gradually healing and that the veterinary team would continue monitoring the animal until it fully recovers.
Bahubali has been regularly spotted for several years in and around Mettupalayam and areas including Thekkampatti, Thasampalayam, Nellithurai, Odandurai, Balapatti, Vachinampalayam, Sirumugai and Lingapuram.
The tusker usually remains in dense forest areas during the day and moves into farmlands adjoining the forest at night, where it has been damaging crops. Though the elephant has not attacked or attempted to attack people so far, its frequent presence in agricultural fields has remained a concern for farmers.