TURA: Much needed medical assistance is being prevented from being administered for a young elephant injured by poachers inside Bangladesh territory due to prevailing international laws that restrict entry of people across the border without valid documents.
The tusker was attacked by poachers and sustained serious injuries on its two hind legs, ear and forehead over two nights ago inside Bangladesh territory. One of its tusks was also damaged in what is believed to have been a cruel attempt to break it off by the poachers.
While the elephant lies in pain frequently crying out not much is being done from the Bangladesh side where animal medical expertise is wanting. Special elephant assistance teams from the Garo Hills sector are unable to cross the border to provide medical treatment to the injured elephant which has already stopped eating.
The problem appears to lie with the presence of international border laws that clearly state those seeking entry must do so after getting required documents cleared from the foreign office which normally takes several days and even weeks to clear. In the absence of any quick remedy for urgent medical aid there is little special veterinary teams from the Indian side can do but wait.
It is a known fact that several wildlife teams including those from the Wildlife trust of India, the state Wildlife department and even environment NGO Samrakshan Trust are playing crucial roles to preserve elephant corridors and habitation in challenging times when man and animal conflict have risen manifold over the last two decades.
Their expertise is being hampered by the international laws which govern each nation state which at times comes at the cost of one’s life.
“If we are given an opportunity we could move in and bring the elephant across where special attention could be given for its treatment. Sadly, this is not happening,” said a frustrated wildlife expert from Garo Hills monitoring the unfolding situation taking place just 300 meters across the international border.
