Forest dept officials form three teams to monitor and treat ailing elephant near Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Forest department officials in Coimbatore district have formed three special teams to monitor and treat an ailing male elephant aged around 7-8 years.
The elephant that was found roaming in Kallar area near Mettupalayam a week ago could not drink water properly as it was suspected to have suffered an injury in its mouth or on the trunk due to a fight with another male elephant, said Dr A Sukumar, forest veterinary officer of Coimbatore forest division.
Locals recorded and shared a video of the elephant on August 24. In the video, the elephant was seen trying to drink water from a river near Thooripalam. The elephant’s effort to drink water went in vain as it was sick.
“We have checked our camera traps in the Kallar area and found the movements of the same male elephant. Immediately, we launched a perambulation to monitor the elephant movement. However, our field staff were not able to see the elephant in the last one week,” said T K Ashok Kumar, district forest officer (DFO) of Coimbatore forest division.
“We are also planning to bring the kumki elephant – Kaleem -- to Kallar area soon,” said Ashok Kumar.
Sukumar said the elephant and its health should be closely monitored. “Then only we can think about the further course of action,” he said.
“We placed a jackfruit with antibiotic medicines in Kallar on Wednesday night. But another elephant ate the fruit. We have placed fruits with antibiotic medicines in a few more places,” he said.