Forest staff, vets save young elephant in Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, avert human-jumbo conflict
Raipur
A young male elephant was saved following prompt medical intervention and joint efforts by the forest staff, Haathi Mitra Dal, and veterinarians in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Gariaband, Chhattisgarh. The swift action also helped prevent a potential human-elephant conflict in the region.
The elephant, aged six to seven years, separated from the Sikasar herd that migrated from Odisha to Chhattisgarh in November 2025. It had been wandering alone for months, raising health concerns and fears of conflict with nearby villagers.
Trackers from the Haathi Mitra Dal monitoring elephants in the Kulhadighat range first noticed the elephant exhibiting abnormal behavior. The jumbo showed signs of digestive distress, having passed no dung for several days and struggling to swallow food.
Forest officials tracked the animal as it traversed hundreds of kilometers from Kulhadighat to the Dhavalpur forest division, eventually reaching the Arsakanihar range of the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve.
Given the severity of the situation, the deputy director of the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve formed a specialized veterinary team comprising Dr. P. K. Chandan and Dr. Rakesh Verma. The team inspected the elephant and collected vomit samples from the Arsakanihar area to test for worm infections and other causes.
The elephant underwent treatment and round-the-clock monitoring for nearly a week in the Taurenga range. Within 10 to 15 days, its condition improved, and it began consuming soft foods such as green corn.
Camera traps installed for the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE–2026) captured images of the healthy elephant in January and February 2026, confirming its recovery. The young male rejoined the Sikasar herd in April 2026.
Experts noted that without timely intervention, the weakened jumbo might have strayed into villages searching for food, creating severe human-elephant conflict. The tiger reserve administration credited the Haathi Mitra Dal, local forest staff, and the veterinary team for the successful rescue.
