Dibrugarh: A viral video of a 48-year-old injured domestic elephant named Maniki limping along a highway in Assam has sparked outrage among wildlife lovers and prompted immediate action from forest officials.
The elephant, owned by Ruchi Chetia of Jorhat, was being forced to walk nearly 95 km from Kakopathar in Tinsukia district to Dibrugarh for medical treatment — in defiance of forest department instructions to transport her by truck.
The footage shows Maniki, with a severely bent left foreleg, struggling to move while a mahout rode on her back. The distressing visuals triggered a wave of condemnation online, with animal lovers accusing the owner of cruelty.
According to Mahout Pradip Moran, the arduous journey began six days earlier and had only covered 36 km before halting at Makum on August 6, when local resident Krishna Majhi offered shelter.
Maniki’s injury dates back two years to Arunachal Pradesh, when a heavy wooden log fell on her leg. Despite treatment at the time, the leg never healed properly, leaving her permanently lame. Her condition reportedly worsened in Kakopathar, leading to the decision to seek specialist care.
Following the viral video, a joint team of district officials, forest personnel, veterinarians, and environmental activists reached Majhi’s residence on Thursday morning. The medical team provided immediate medication and evaluated the elephant’s condition.
“We condemn such atrocities against innocent animals. The owner should be held accountable. This is not the first such case — elephants have repeatedly paid a heavy price,” said animal activist Debojit Moran.
He added, “In Assam, elephants are still used for transport, and this must stop. It is wrong to torture these gentle giants.”
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