Overview

• Gadru, a six-year-old wild elephant, died on July 6 after collapsing from excessive blood loss and an infection in a severely injured hind limb
• Forest Department teams first spotted the injured animal on June 24 and located it by drone surveillance on June 27 for a rescue operation
• Veterinary experts from Vantara and Saranda forest officials monitored by DFO Aviroop Sinha and RCCF Smita Pankaj administered tranquilisation and treatment overnight
• Authorities suspect a capsule IED laid by Maoist insurgents caused the limb injury and are investigating potential links as part of the post-mortem process
• Joint security operations in the Kolhan region have faced continuous threats from thousands of hidden IEDs planted by an estimated 85–90 Maoists since November 2022