Elephant injured after being hit by pickup van while crossing NH-20 in Kendujhar

Kendujhar: A wild elephant was injured after being hit by a pickup van when crossing National Highway-20 near Badapashi under Kendujhar Sadar Forest Range on yesterday night.

The incident took place around 3 AM when a group of six wild elephants, including one male elephant and three calves and their mothers, was moving along the National Highway.

According to the Forest Department, the about 8-year-old male elephant got hit by a pickup van when crossing the national road, sustaining an injury in its hind leg.

The elephant was having problems supporting the weight on its right hind leg and was limping but there were no major external injuries to be found in it or visible fracture marks were detected, the DFO said.

The Front bumper of the pickup van was found on the roadside soon after learning of the incident when the forest personnel reached the scene.

The DFO visited the spot along with Veterinarians, one Wildlife Biologist and ACF to take stock of the situation and regulate vehicular movement in the vicinity.

Vehicles movement was stopped at both ends for a couple of hours to ensure that both elephant and the team can move around freely without any threat.

The tusker, which sustained an injury on its leg, has been given two injections of painkiller through an air-dart.

According to forest officers the elephant appeared more active and is likely to recover at a pace.

Forest Officers are also taking assistance from veterinarian of OUAT, Nandankanan Zoological Park.

The tusker has by now gone about 100 meters into the forest beyond National Highway-20.