Shivamogga: Following a period of critical health complications that drew national attention, four elephants at the Sakrebailu Elephant Camp—Balanna, Vikrant, Adkabadka, and Sagar—have successfully returned to a stable condition thanks to the coordinated efforts of veterinarians and forest officials.The health crisis originally sparked widespread concern and social media scrutiny, leading forest minister Eshwar Khandre to order a probe and appoint a specialised medical committee to oversee emergency treatments during Oct last year.Under the guidance of CCF (Shivamogga circle) Hanumanthappa, DCF (Shivamogga wildlife) Prasanna Krishna Patgar, the elephant camp RFO Vinay, and veterinarian Dr Muruli Manohar, a dedicated team of experts from various divisions of the Karnataka forest department provided care to stabilise the animals.The recovery of Balanna, a prominent tusker in the camp, involved a high-stakes surgical procedure to amputate his right ear pinna after it developed dry gangrene; though he has lost the ear entirely, officials confirm he is now robust and healthy.Simultaneously, Adkabadka, who suffered a severe injury and suspected nerve paralysis in his front left leg, has regained the ability to walk through a combination of allopathy, ayurveda, specialised hydrotherapy, and fibreglass casting, foresters said.Sagar has fully recovered from a severe hind-leg abscess, while Vikrant, who sustained injuries during his capture in the Belur region of Hassan district, has been declared fit and released from the kraal.Patgar attributed the success to the entire staff involved in the treatment, noting that while the elephants are stable, they will require a few more weeks to reach full recovery.
