Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Mangal Singh is missing. The captive elephant vanished into the Pengaree Reserve Forest on July 28, sparking fears for his life. The animal suffers from a severe, maggot-infested tusk infection. He disappeared the same day officials examined him in Ketetong. A team including the Margherita Range Ranger, an Assistant Conservator of Forests, and veterinarian Mehendi Hassan assessed the animal. They told owner Sanjoy Duwania to move the elephant to Pangna village while they arranged diagnostic equipment.
The mahout suffered an injury during transit. The elephant broke free and fled into the forest. This occurred a week after Duwania asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for permission to move the animal to Kaziranga for rehabilitation. That request had the backing of veterinarian Arindam Kishore Pachoni and wildlife activist Samiran Hatimuriya. Critics argue the Digboi DFO blocked the transfer, endangering the elephant.
Hatimuriya, who cleaned the wound daily, pulled out of the rescue effort following clashes with the DFO. He alleged the officer snapped, "Who are you to poke your nose into the matter?" Hatimuriya now questions the department's integrity. "If the elephant dies somewhere inside the forest in its present condition, who will be held accountable?" he asked. Activists fear poachers may target the weakened animal. Search parties are currently scouring the forest, but officials in Guwahati and the Digboi DFO remain silent.
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