Dibrugarh: A wild elephant roaming in Golaghat district, with a tractor tyre stuck around its neck, finally breathed a sigh of relief after forest officials removed the tyre late on Thursday.The elephant, part of a herd of four, was first spotted in the Bokial forest block in the Morongi area near Numaligarh. The area includes tea gardens and forest fringes.A video of the distressed elephant spread on social media, prompting concern among residents and wildlife enthusiasts. Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia alerted senior forest department officials, following which a rescue operation was launched.A team from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), Kaziranga, joined personnel from the Golaghat Forest Division. Wildlife veterinarians and frontline forest staff tracked the elephant for several hours before deciding how to remove the tyre.Forest officials said they separated it from the herd and moved it to a suitable location before tranquilising it. They then cut and removed the tyre without injuring the animal.Environment and forests minister Jayanta Malla Baruah praised the frontline staff.“Upon receiving information about a wild elephant roaming in the Morongi area of Golaghat district with a large tyre stuck around its neck, our forest department teams swung into action. The rescue was carried out with utmost care and caution, ensuring the safety of both the elephant and the personnel involved,” Baruah said in a post on X.“I appreciate the prompt response, courage and dedicated efforts of our frontline forest teams. Their commitment to protecting wildlife, even in challenging circumstances, is truly commendable,” he added.Officials said it was not known how the tyre got stuck around the elephant’s neck. They suspected it was discarded in the forest or near a tea garden and that the animal may have picked it up with its trunk before becoming trapped.Wildlife experts warned that prolonged entanglement could have caused wounds, restricted movement and led to serious health complications.
