Rinki`s story !

[Guest guest]

This video of Rinki- the two year old elephant calf was shot on 2nd

December` 2006 by me:

 

 

Rinki met with an accident when a speeding truck crashed on to her

on the National Highway No.36 at Assam`s Nagaon district.

Rinky was playfully walking on the side of the road escorted by her

captive mother ( ages 20yrs ) and her elder sister ( aged 5yrs ),

when this wretched truck driver lost control and rammed his vehicle

into the elephant.

 

Rinki was shifted from the site of the accident to the premier

Veterinary college of the north east India at Guwahati city.

 

The vets attending to her say that she has suffered Lumbo-Sacral

fracture ( lower spinal cord fracture ), which is why she is unable

to stand up or event sit.

 

Her X-ray will be performed only on Monday 4th December ( as the

machine is faulty ).

 

When I went to pay the injured calf a visit, I found her condition

to be pathetic.

 

She was brought without her mother. This because the mother wont

allow anyone to come near the calf, and was constantly trying to

push the calf to get up.

The calf was resting through the day and night below a shady tree on

the cold ground. Although there was straw placed underneath but she

has pushed them all aside.

She has developed severe bedsores as a result of constantly lying on

her right side.

She was crying out in severe pain.

The helpless owner was trying to do all that was possible within his

limits.

 

The veterinary department and the wildlife department were not able

to prvide some of the basic emergency requirements.

1. A mosquito net: Because the only mosquito net is in the Zoo and

so it was not made available.

 

2. No blanket was provided to the calf, despite temperatures here

reaching 12 Degrees celcius at night.

 

3. No shed was above the elephant to protect it from the dew and

other objects falling from the tree. This despite the fact that the

elephant had paralyzed its tail and was not able to drive away the

flies etc.

 

4. There is just one sling available in the Zoo, and even that was

not made available so that the elephant could stand up.

 

5. Despite 3000 plus wildlife NGOs present in the state, none seemed

to have the courtesy to pay the elephant a visit.

 

Fortunately I carried a blanket, which I have donated to the

elephant`s owner.

 

I have also asked the veterinary students to raise funds for the

welfare of the elephant. The students have agreed to donate at least

Rs.10/- each and want to buy the elephant a waterproof sheet so that

it can be put up at night above the elephant as a shed.

I am also trying to pass the message to all the local NGOs across.

that this animal needs help !

I have informed the local news media and it has already been

published so that more people are aware of this elephant's condition.

 

It is extremely sad that this sprawling veterinary college and

hospital could not make the basics available to the one and only

exotic patient and a schedule 1 animal.

 

Just wanted to share this with my AAPN colleagues, and also those in

India who may care to take this matter up with the 'ANIMAL WELFARE

BOARD OF INDIA'.

 

Whether Rinki shall be able to lead a normal life or finally is

euthanised only time can say.

The Vets are doing their best.

But there is a big lesson to be learnt from this story for all those

involved in animal welfare business, because despite so much of

awareness and funds rolling, when it comes to actually see some

action, the results are so depressing !!

Believe it or not there are 3000 plus NGOs working for wildlife

research, conservation, animal care emergencies, etc etc....but when

they are needed the most, the cries of the animal in distress often

goes unseen, unheard !

 

Till the time of filing this report ( 1:15pm, 03/12/06 ), I am told

by the guardian of the elephant that barring a few media persons, NO

ONE FROM ANY NGO HAS CONTACTED OR CARED TO VISIT THE HOSPITAL

PREMISES TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THIS CALF.

Rinki, is refusing to take milk or milk supplements, she is taking

gram and some banana stems though, the vets are monitorning her

condition.

 

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

PS: Please do mail me at: azamsiddiqui to know about the

update on Rinki`s condition and also for more pictures.

[Guest guest]

I have just read Rinki's story - a baby zoo elephant. A very moving story.

She was hit by a truck driver and she's not getting the help she needs. Like

the sender of this email said, this is the time when the animal welfare

organizations and individuals should act. The organizations receiving this

message, please contact the author of the article. Hopefully, we can at least

pray

for Rinki. May God help her get better soon and not suffer so much.

PV

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

 

I have read your story about Rinki and have forwarded to some animal welfare

organizations and others who may be interested in reading about Rinki's story,

hoping that this will bring some much neede help for Rinki. I hope and pray

she will get better soon. Please update me on her condition.

Thank you

 

Patricia