Staff Reporter:
An elephant, brutally beaten in a shocking act of cruelty that went viral online, has been rescued by the Forest Department following an urgent directive from Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
The elephant, discovered in the Bakhrabad Gas Field area of Debidwar, Cumilla, was subjected to abuse that drew widespread condemnation from netizens demanding justice. After an all-night operation, the animal was finally rescued early Thursday morning from Sonaullah village in Muradnagar.
A ministry press release stated that the elephant underwent an initial health assessment before being sent to Gazipur Safari Park for further care.
The rescue faced significant challenges due to the mahout’s refusal to cooperate. However, authorities detained the mahout on Thursday morning, allowing the rescue team to safely secure the distressed animal. Legal proceedings against the elephant’s owner are currently in progress.
The video of the beating, which circulated widely on social media, sparked a wave of public outrage and demands for immediate action. Responding swiftly, the environment ministry adviser ordered the elephant’s rescue, mobilising both the Forest Department and local communities in a coordinated effort to save the animal.
