Forest officials led by Deogarh DFO Kartik Chandra Samantray along with Additional District Veterinary Officer (ADVO) Dr Alok Kumar Dash, rushed to the spot after being informed by some villagers and treated the tusker. Dash said the elephant suffers from fever and has stopped taking food as a result of which, it has become weak.
There is a wound above the left eye of the elephant that has been treated. The ADVO will visit the place again on Thursday to review health condition of the animal. On June 9, a 40 year-old female elephant died of tongue and gums infection in Kapasira forest under Deogarh Forest Division. Forest officials and veterinarians, who immediately rushed to the spot with medication, said she had not been able to eat anything for nearly five days resulting in dehydration and death.
A few days later on June 12, decomposed carcasses of three female elephants were traced Damdami Hill in Prabhasuni Reserve Forest under Deogarh Forest Range in the district.
The elephants were initially suspected to have died of severe infection but after it was found from the circumstantial evidence and post-mortem reports that they died after being struck by lightning. The carcasses were found by some village women who had gone inside the forest to collect timber.