Representative image. File | Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar
Elephants are increasingly facing man-made or man-made threats in Assam.
Days after wildlife veterinarians treated the trunk of a female elephant trapped in a wire mesh trap on the outskirts of the Raimona National Park in western Assam, the juvenile elephant was freed from a truck tire stuck on its neck.
An elephant struggling to shake off a tire was spotted in the herd at Bukhial tea estate in Golaghat district of eastern Assam on Thursday (September 10, 2026) morning.
Officials from the Golaghat Forest Department and a team from the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Center (CWRC) near Kaziranga rushed to the spot to assess the situation and monitor the movement of the herd.
“The rescue team carefully removed the splint from the injured elephant’s neck after it was immobilized by chemicals. The elephant later returned to its herd,” said Bhaskar Chowdhury, head of the CWRC center and lead veterinarian, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
On Wednesday morning (September 9, 2026), a baby elephant was found in a muddy trench at the Sekoni tea estate near Kaziranga. A herd of 4-6 week old calf escaped after an attempt was made to remove it from a trench.
Deep trenches are often dug around tea plantations to keep elephants away.
Some tea garden workers and nearby villagers alerted the Kaziranga National Park authorities. The CWRC team was subsequently asked to assist in the rescue operation.
The calf, dehydrated and suffering from severe muscle wasting, was pulled from the trench and taken to a nearby forestry station for veterinary attention. He was given fluids to help him recover.
The team waited in vain for the elephant herd to return in search of the calf, which was later admitted to the CWRC for rehabilitation. The calf joins 10 other elephants currently cared for at the center.
“This calf’s journey from isolation and suffering to safety and care reflects the dedication of local communities, forest officials and wildlife experts working together. While we always prioritize reunification with the wild herd, rehabilitation gives this calf a second chance at life,” Dr Chowdhury said.
Published – September 11, 2026 05:54 EST.