Mother elephant dies after falling ill, months after losing calf to snakebite

Nuri, a domesticated elephant, died after falling ill and collapsing in a hill stream in Moulvibazar's Juri upazila. The 18-year-old elephant, who had been unwell for several days, died while undergoing treatment.

The elephant died on Sunday afternoon in the deep forest of Juri. Her body was buried inside the forest by digging a pit.

Nuri's owner, Masum Reza, president of Juri upazila BNP and chairman of Jaifarnagar Union Parishad, confirmed the elephant's death on Thursday night.

He said four to five years ago, Nuri's seven-month-old calf died after being bitten by a venomous snake in the forest. Nuri used to roam with other elephants in the Lakshmichhara area of the local Harargaj reserved forest.

Masum Reza said he recently learned of Nuri's illness through the mahout. The elephant had become weak due to illness and had stopped eating. On August 2, he visited the elephant along with a veterinarian from the livestock department. Nuri died the day after treatment began.

Juri Upazila Livestock Officer Mridul Kanti De said Nuri was suffering from a throat infection. She had difficulty breathing, had been running a fever for several days, and could not eat. She was initially given saline and injections. However, treatment was disrupted after she collapsed in the stream. Efforts to make the elephant stand again were unsuccessful.

Juri Range Officer Sad Uddin said several domesticated elephants roam in various forests in Juri. Many of their owners have licenses from the Forest Department. The elephants are trained from a young age using the traditional 'hadani' method and are later used for logging, circuses and various events on a rental basis.

Although Nuri has died, her mother Nurjahan, 38, and her seven-year-old brother Nur Bahadur are still alive. The forest official said a general diary (GD) was filed at Juri Police Station on August 3 regarding Nuri's death.