Golaghat (Assam), 11 September (HS): A wild elephant was found with an old tyre hanging around its neck at Bakiyal near Numaligarh in Assam’s Golaghat district, creating concern among local residents from yesterday. The elephant had reportedly strayed out of the forest and entered a human-inhabited area when it was spotted with the tyre around its neck.

It remains unclear how the tyre became lodged around the elephant’s neck. After receiving information about the animal, the Forest Department launched an operation to monitor its movement with the help of a drone. Officials tracked the elephant and finally tranquilised it during the night to safely remove the tyre.

Veterinarian Dr Bhaskar Choudhury from the Panbari Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre tranquilised the elephant, following which forest personnel successfully removed the tyre from its neck.

Golaghat Forest Range Officer Kirti Kamal Deka, Forest Protection Force Range Officer Rajib Kakati, Marangi Revenue Circle Officer Satish Prasad and other forest officials were present during the rescue operation. The successful intervention prevented the tyre from causing further distress or injury to the wild elephant.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash