Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Mangal Singh remains in agony. More than three months after poachers hacked off his tusks in the Dhulijan forest, the domesticated elephant is battling a severe tooth infection. The elephant rests in Inthem village under the care of owner Hunjoy Duaniya and mahout Latu Moran. Local residents and activists now demand the state move the animal to Kaziranga for advanced medical help.
Government veterinary teams provide care, but progress stalled long ago. Diagnostic equipment is missing. The local hospital lacks portable X-ray machines, leaving vets in the dark about internal damage. Officials expect those facilities to arrive in two weeks, but critics say the wait is dangerous. "The absence of portable diagnostic facilities has become a major challenge in treating the elephant," veterinary sources stated.
Poachers struck in April 2026, using heavy rain to mask their movements in the Tinsukia district. They left Mangal Singh bleeding in the Lakhipathar area. The Digboi Forest Division launched an investigation, yet the ivory remains missing and no arrests have followed. Wildlife activist Devajit Moran slammed the department for failing to secure the animal's recovery or find the culprits. He called for an independent review of the entire case.
Public anger over the handling of the attack continues to mount. Conservationists and locals are pressuring the Assam government to stop the delays and shift the animal to the specialised facilities at Kaziranga immediately.
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