‘Wound to forehead, right ear, abdomen’: Flood-rescued elephant airlifted to Vantara

A 53-year-old elephant rescued from devastating northeastern floods is being airlifted to Vantara, Jamnagar. Joymoti suffered severe trauma, deep infections, and impaired vision after being swept away torrential waters across Nagaland and Assam. She will receive specialised veterinary treatment at Anant Ambani’s animal welfare and conservation organisation.The elephant was left with severe injuries after being swept away floodwaters in Nagaland. (File Photo)What happened to her?She was swept away floodwaters in Nagaland in July and subsequently rescued the local authorities. However, the accident left her with multiple injuries. According to a press release, she sustained “wounds to her forehead, right ear, the area above her tail, left inner thigh and abdomen, as well as a deep, maggot-infested wound around her external genital area.”Additionally, she sustained severe damage in her right eye, which left her blind in one eye. She also suffered a fracture and had a longstanding lameness in her left hind leg.What happened after she was rescued?When the local authorities rescued her, she received first aid and primary veterinary care, which included “wound dressing, pain medication, multivitamin and mineral supplements and supportive treatment.”However, she is in need of specialised treatment due to the severity of her injuries, exing mobility challenges, and advanced age.Why is she taken to Vantara?Joymoti will be treated at a specialised elephant hospital while at Vantara. She will receive “specialised treatment for her injuries and eye condition, along with nutritional and supportive care as required”.Why was she airlifted?According to a statement, airlifting an elephant is a “first-of-its-kind undertaking in India”. She is being transported through the air to “significantly reduce the duration of a long-dance journey for an animal requiring urgent medical attention.”It further added, “Joymoti’s transfer is being planned and carried out with careful attention to her health, comfort and safety at every stage, from her veterinary assessment and preparation before travel to loading, monitoring during the flight and her arrival at the hospital.”Will the elephant stay in Vantara?No, it is not a permanent relocation but an urgent medical transfer. It has been taken “solely to provide the specialised lifesaving treatment she currently requires”Vantara has proposed establishing three wildlife veterinary care centres in Assam, one of which will be dedicated to elephants. The statement noted, “the proposed centres would include species-specific facilities and veterinary support, enabling animals in need to receive timely and appropriate treatment closer to where emergencies occur. The centres would be operated completely independently the Assam Forest Department.”