Digboi: A 16-year-old captive elephant, Mangal Singh, underwent a specialised dental procedure in Assam’s Margherita on Wednesday, months after suspected poachers hacked off both his tusks near their roots.
The injury left the elephant with exposed pulp cavities, infection and prolonged health complications.
The procedure involved a partial pulpotomy to treat and close the exposed pulp cavities and prevent further complications.
A multidisciplinary team led by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) veterinarian Bhaskar Choudhury conducted the procedure. Experts in elephant anaesthesia, veterinary surgery, radiology and orthodontics also took part.
Retired professor of Surgery and Radiology and elephant anaesthesia expert Bhupen Sarma joined the team, along with an orthodontics team from Tinsukia led by Abhishek Ojha.
Senior Animal Husbandry Department veterinarians Rabi Shankar Choudhury and Bishwajit Barua, along with WTI veterinarian Mehedi Hassan, also participated.
Mangal Singh was attacked in the Dhulijan forest area of Lakhipathar under the Digboi Forest Division in April.
Local residents heard his cries and alerted the authorities. Forest Department and veterinary teams then reached the area to provide assistance.
The elephant had suffered severe bleeding. The exposed pulp cavities later became a source of infection despite continued treatment and monitoring.
“During the initial days following the incident, the elephant remained in critical condition and suffered from severe bleeding. As both tusks had been cut from near the roots, the pulp cavities were left exposed, resulting in persistent infection despite regular monitoring and treatment,” said Mehedi Hassan.
The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) team decided not to move Mangal Singh to an unfamiliar facility because of his familiarity with the area and established social bonds. The decision was aimed at minimising additional stress during his treatment.
The case has also raised questions about the investigation into the wildlife crime. Nearly four months after the tusks were removed, the stolen tusks have reportedly not been recovered.
The non-recovery of the tusks has raised questions about the progress of the investigation and whether the people responsible have been identified. It has also prompted concerns about the response of the enforcement authorities in the Digboi Forest Division.
Bhaskar Choudhury expressed concern about the injuries suffered by Mangal Singh and called for stronger protection of elephants, including those under private ownership.
“It is disheartening to see this majestic sub-adult tusker suffer such brutality. The circumstances surrounding the loss of his tusks are deeply concerning and highlight the need for greater protection of elephants,” he said.
WTI CEO Jose Louies said the case showed the physical and psychological effects of illegal ivory-related activities. He called for continued vigilance, stronger protection measures and swift action against wildlife criminals.
The CWRC near Kaziranga National Park is jointly managed by the Assam Forest Department, WTI and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
The case has also raised concerns about the safety of captive elephants and the delay in providing Mangal Singh with advanced treatment at Kaziranga.
The latest procedure may help him recover. However, the tusks have not yet been recovered, and the investigation has yet to establish who removed them.