The dead elephant. (Biplab Basak)

Alipurduar, Nov. 16: An adult elephant that was found limping because of an injury 10 days ago was found dead this morning even before foresters could tranquillise it and start treatment.

The carcass was spotted in Panjhora beat under Jalpaiguri Forest Division.

When the male elephant without tusks had been found limping, the guards contacted veterinary doctors. The forest officers deferred the treatment after the vets said the injury on the knee of the pachyderm’s front left leg was so serious that if the animal was tranquillised, it would not stand again.

The elephant had been hobbling around in the Murti, Garumara, Chapramari and Panjhora areas.

On November 14, the guards contacted Subroto Pal Choudhury of Wildlife Wing, an expert in tranquillising elephants. A team comprising Pal and five vets was formed. They, along with Jalpaiguri divisional forest officer, entered the forest to examine the elephant yesterday.

“The team members said they would start the treatment today after tranquillising the elephant in a such a way that it would be able to move again. But when we reached the forest this morning with trained elephants of the department, the injured pachyderm was lying dead,” said S. Patel, chief conservator of forest (wildlife), north Bengal.

Patel said a post-mortem would be conducted and only then that the department would be able to comment on the nature of the injury. He, however, said it might have fracture in the bone of the knee.

The guards of Wildlife-II Division got information a couple of months ago that an elephant was injured after it had collided with a speeding train. The officials were verifying whether that elephant and the dead one were same.

Animal lovers slammed the forest department for the delay in treating the elephant. Animesh Bose, the programme co-ordinator of Himalayn Nature and Adventure Foundation, said such a lapse by the guards of wildlife was unpardonable.

“The elephant might die even after the treatment. But at least, an effort must have been made to save its life,” he said.