Pet elephant dies from illness in Moulvibazar forest following failed medical treatment
Photo Collected
A pet elephant named Nuri has died in the deep forests of Juri, Moulvibazar, after suffering from a prolonged illness. The 18-year-old elephant passed away on the afternoon of August 3 while receiving medical treatment near a hilly stream, where its carcass was subsequently buried.
Masum Reza, the owner of the elephant and the chairman of Joyfornagar Union Parishad, confirmed the incident on Thursday night. According to Reza, the elephant had been part of a group roaming the Harargaj protected forest area near Lakshichhara. After being alerted to the animal’s deteriorating health by its mahout, Reza sought professional veterinary assistance on August 2. Despite the medical intervention, the elephant’s condition worsened rapidly, leading to its death the following day.
Juri Upazila Livestock Officer Mridul Kanti Dey, who treated the elephant, identified the cause of death as a throat infection that led to respiratory distress and a high fever. The animal had stopped eating and became severely weakened. Veterinary staff administered saline and injections, but efforts to revive the elephant were hampered after it collapsed into a stream. Efforts to lift the animal to its feet were ultimately unsuccessful.
Local forest officials state that several captive elephants roam the forests of Juri, many of which are kept by owners under licenses issued by the Forest Department. These elephants are traditionally trained using the “hadani” method and are frequently deployed for hauling timber, performing in circuses, or appearing at social events.
Forest Ranger Sad Uddin confirmed that a general diary was filed with the Juri Police Station on August 3 regarding the death. Nuri is survived by its 38-year-old mother, Noorjahan, and a 7-year-old sibling named Noor Bahadur. The owner noted that Nuri had previously lost a seven-month-old calf to a venomous snake bite several years ago.
0%
0%
0%
0%
