The department of wildlife in Sri Lanka performs an outstanding job in treating sick wild animals, even though the resources are minimally available. In Sri Lanka, although many wild animal species exist, the elephant is the most conspicuous out of all.
Today’s wild elephant footage brings you a real-life experience of a wildlife team treating an injured elephant.
When news of an injured elephant is reached either during surveillance by wildlife officers or through local villagers’ words, a team consisting of veterinarians and support staff are dispatched. This team will treat wild animals within their jungle habitats.
As elephants, especially wild elephants, are not docile towards strangers, they are sedated before they are approached. A dart containing a calculated dose of the sedative is shot from a distance. A dart typically consists of several parts that are designed to deliver the drug on impact. The dart’s feathered tail will stabilize the dart when it moves through air, and the barrel is loaded with the drug of choice. The foremost needle will pierce the animal and will pave the way to deliver the drug on impact.
After sedation, the team treats the fallen giant with a rush. It is not recommended to keep these giants recumbent for longer durations. The elephant was treated with antibiotics, vitamins, and so on. Also, the officers sprayed the wounds with an antibiotic spray to prevent infection. Once everything is done, the sedation is reversed by using another drug. For this elephant, the reversing drug was administered intravenously through the ear vein.
Once the elephant recovers, the day’s job of the team is over. However, they will keep a close eye on these jumbo patients until their complete recovery.
