The Forest Department rescued an elephant that had recently been beaten early on Thursday, on the orders of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The elephant, injured in Daudkandi, Cumilla, was traced to the Bakhrabad gas field area of Debidwar. After efforts through the night, it was rescued from Sonaullah village in Muradnagar. After a preliminary health check, it is being sent to Gazipur Safari Park.

According to the Department of Forest, the elephant was traced by the Cumilla Forest Department with the help of volunteers, under the supervision of the ministry's secretary and the chief conservator of forests. The situation was complicated by the mahout's lack of co-operation, but on Thursday morning he was detained and the elephant brought under control. The rescue team has now set off with the elephant for Gazipur Safari Park. Legal action against the elephant's owner is being processed.

A video of the elephant being beaten had spread widely on social media. When it came to the adviser's attention, she ordered the elephant's urgent rescue. Following her instructions, it was rescued through the joint efforts of the Forest Department's Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle, the Cumilla Forest Department and local people.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.