Flood survivor elephant ‘Joymoti’ airlifted from Northeast to Vantara for treatment
The elephant suffered several injuries in the incident, including wounds on her forehead, right ear, the area above her tail, left inner thigh and abdomen. She also had a deep wound around her external genital area that had become infested with maggots.
In July, a 53-year-old female elephant named Joymoti was rescued from floodwaters in Nagaland and Assam following severe monsoon rains. She was severely injured, with wounds to her head, ear, tail, thigh, abdomen, and a deep, infected wound near her genital area. Her right eye was also severely damaged, leaving her blind in that eye, and she had a longstanding lameness in her left hind leg from a previous logging accident.
Despite receiving initial veterinary care locally, Joymoti's multiple injuries, advanced age, and mobility issues required immediate specialized treatment. Consequently, she has been airlifted to Vantara, Jamnagar, for specialized veterinary care at an elephant hospital. This is a first-of-its-kind air transport in India, requiring extensive veterinary, animal-care, and logistical preparation.
The goal is to minimize ground travel time and protect her welfare. Joymoti's case underscores the need for specialized elephant veterinary care facilities closer to wildlife emergencies. Vantara has proposed setting up three wildlife veterinary care centers in Assam, including one specifically for elephants, to provide timely and appropriate treatment closer to affected areas.
This would strengthen local capacity and reduce the need for long-distance transportation for emergency veterinary care.
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