In a concerning incident, a severely injured elephant was discovered roaming in the Atei reserve forest, located near Dhokotha in the Ghatagaon forest range of Keonjhar district. This unfortunate situation is believed to be the result of an attack by poachers.

According to officials from the forest department, the tusker, estimated to be over 25 years old, has a significant injury on its front left leg, likely inflicted by a sharp object or arrow from suspected poachers. Local residents alerted authorities after spotting the distressed animal on Friday morning around 10:10 AM, prompting a swift response from a team of forest officials and veterinary personnel who began initial treatment.

On Saturday, a specialized elephant rescue team tranquilized the animal to provide more comprehensive medical attention. Initial assessments indicate that the tusker may have wandered away from the Satkosia forest range. It was last observed resting near the Mushala riverbank within the Dhokotha forest area, showing signs of pain.

Keonjhar's District Forest Officer HD Dhanraj, along with Anandpur DFO Abhaya Kumar Dalai and veterinary staff, are actively overseeing the situation. Forest guard Ashok Das reported that the elephant is currently unable to eat and has been vomiting shortly after attempting to consume food, raising concerns about potential complications in its throat or digestive tract. The treatment regimen includes antibiotics, and the team is working tirelessly to ensure the animal's recovery.