Captive Elephant Dies From Illness in Moulvibazar Forest
Photo Collected
An 18-year-old captive elephant named Nuri has died in the deep forests of Juri, Moulvibazar, following a period of severe illness. The animal, which had been suffering from respiratory distress and high fever, succumbed to its condition on Sunday afternoon after collapsing into a mountain stream.
According to owner Masum Reza, who serves as the Juri Upazila BNP president and chairman of the Joyfornagar Union Parishad, the elephant’s health had deteriorated rapidly over several days. Veterinary care was provided by Juri Upazila Livestock Officer Mridul Kanti De, who diagnosed the animal with a throat infection that made breathing and eating difficult. Despite efforts to stabilize the elephant with intravenous fluids and injections, the animal’s collapse into the stream hindered further treatment, and attempts to hoist it to its feet proved unsuccessful. Following its death, the carcass was buried in a pit within the forest.
The death marks another loss for the owner, who previously lost a seven-month-old calf belonging to Nuri to a venomous snake bite several years ago. Despite Nuri’s passing, the owner still maintains two other elephants: a 38-year-old named Noorjahan and a 7-year-old named Noor Bahadur.
Captive elephants are a common sight in the remote forests of Juri, where they are often employed for heavy labor, including timber hauling, as well as for entertainment at circuses and social events. According to Juri Range Officer Sad Uddin, while many of these animals are held under Forest Department licenses and trained through traditional methods, the nature of their work often takes them into rugged and inaccessible terrain.
Authorities have documented the incident, with the Forest Department confirming that a general diary was filed at the Juri police station on August 3 regarding the death of the elephant.
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