Wildlife activists fume against Forest dept over elephant Vikrant’s health condition at Sakrebail camp

BENGALURU: Animal lovers are outraged against Forest department officials over the condition of elephant Vikrant which is being treated at the Sakrebail elephant camp in Shivamogga district. Activists allege that officials haven’t provided proper treatment even though the elephant’s leg is rotting due to unhealed wounds on the legs. The huge elephant has wasted away and shrunk in size, they claim.

The elephant Vikrant was captured from Hassan and taken to the Sakrebail camp in Shivamogga district. But now there are allegations that the elephant has wasted away in the camp. Animal lovers captured video and expressed outrage over the Forest department’s negligence in not providing even basic treatment for the elephant.

Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover, in a self-made video said, “If they can’t even rear an elephant properly, why should they capture it? The Forest department that hasn’t learned its lesson even after losing elephants one after another. The Sakrebail elephant camp has a dubious record and the government should step in to save the elephant”.

He further said that the elephant had a wound on one hind leg earlier, but now all its four legs have gangrenous wounds. “The officials say the elephant has a deficiency of haemoglobin, then they should get experts to treat the animal. Yes, elephants may be causing problems to villagers and farmers, but they should be treated properly after capture”, he added.