Injured Assam Elephant Forced to Walk 95 Km Sparks Official Outrage

A viral video showing a 48-year-old injured elephant named Maniki limping painfully along a highway in Assam has sparked widespread outrage and prompted immediate intervention by forest officials. Despite clear forest department guidelines mandating transport by truck for injured animals, Maniki was forced to walk nearly 95 kilometers from Kakopathar to Dibrugarh for medical treatment, worsening her condition. The elephant’s injury, a permanently bent left foreleg, dates back two years to an accident in Arunachal Pradesh, and her condition deteriorated in Kakopathar, necessitating specialized care. After a local resident rescued Maniki in Makum, a joint team of officials and medical experts administered medication and ordered a three-day rest, directing the owner to arrange proper truck transport with medical support to a treatment center in Kaziranga or Guwahati. Authorities condemned the owner's defiance of animal welfare rules and are considering legal action. This case has raised serious concerns about enforcement of wildlife protection protocols and the welfare of domesticated elephants in the region.