Sontipur, 23 September 2026: The injured elephant was sighted at Kacharigaon Tea Estate in Rangapara, Sonitpur, leaning against a tree for support. Under the guidance of Mr Biswa Jyoti Das, AFS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sonitpur West Division, Tezpur, a team from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Assam Forest Department attended to the adult male wild elephant Makhna after detecting multiple injuries, particularly on the left foreleg around the elbow joint.

Upon examination, the elephant was found to have a suspected sharp spear-related injury to the left foreleg, resulting in severe swelling and difficulty in bearing weight on the affected limb. The animal was also observed to have corneal opacity in the left eye, with suspected partial loss of vision.

For safe examination and treatment, the elephant was chemically immobilised. Surgical intervention was undertaken on the injured left foreleg, and the pus-filled wounds were thoroughly cleaned and dressed, and appropriate antimicrobial ointment was applied. Injectable antibiotics and other necessary supportive treatment were also administered.

The affected left eye was cleaned and dressed, followed by administration of a subconjunctival injection as required.

As part of the post-operative management, the elephant will continue to receive an oral course of antibiotics for a minimum of two weeks, as advised by the attending veterinary team. The animal will remain under close observation and monitoring under the supervision of Miss Sabina Yasmin, Forest Range Officer, Central Range, Sonitpur West Division, Tezpur, until satisfactory recovery. Regular monitoring will be undertaken to assess the condition of the injured foreleg, wound healing, general health, mobility and the condition of the affected eye.

Mr. Biswa Jyoti Das, AFS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sonitpur West Division, Tezpur, said, “The individual has been under our close observation since 25^th August. Accordingly, on 29^th Aug Dr. Daoharu Boro and Dr. Mehedi Hasan of CWRC-WTI, along with Dr. Amarjyoti Boro, intervened and provided preliminary treatment. This was followed by a major surgical intervention on 12 September 2026.”

The treatment and subsequent management of the injured elephant were carried out with the expertise of Dr. Panjit Basumatary, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI); Dr. Amarjyoti Boro, Block Veterinary Officer, Dhekiajuli; Dr. Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi, ACF, Sonitpur West Division, Tezpur; Miss Sabina Yasmin, Forest Range Officer, Central Range, Sonitpur West Division, Tezpur; and the frontline staff of Sonitpur West Division and Central Range, who assisted in the operation and subsequent management of the animal. “Considering the severity of the injury, the elephant requires intensive post-operative care and close monitoring. If there is no adequate response to the treatment, we may need to immobilise him and provide further necessary medical intervention”, said Dr. Panjit Basumatary. 

The Forest Department is closely monitoring the elephant’s condition, and all necessary veterinary and supportive measures are being continued to facilitate its recovery. Over the past 48 hours, the elephant has been observed moving towards Nameri National Park, covering approximately 7 km.

The elephant continues to move towards Nameri National Park and has been sighted in a paddy field. Following the initial treatment and postoperative care provided by WTI and the Assam Forest Department on 12 September 2026, the swelling in his injured left foreleg has reduced significantly.

The availability of water resources in the area may further support his recovery. Our team will continue to monitor his progress over this week, following which we plan to intervene for an eye examination and a comprehensive health check-up.

Thanks to the continued support of the Assam Forest Department and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in assisting with such interventions.