(IN): Sick Indian elephant dies asleep

October 4, 2007

Sick Indian elephant dies asleep

By Sunil Raman

BBC News, Delhi

*An 80-year-old elephant at the centre of a mercy killing debate in India

has died of natural causes, officials say.*

The elephant, Arundhati, broke her leg three weeks ago in the northern state

of Uttarakhand. Vets said her multiple fractures could not be repaired.

She died in her sleep on Tuesday night before they could give her a lethal

injection to end her pain.

Animal rights activists had accused the forest department of negligence for

not providing adequate medical care.

*'Delay'*

The chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand state was not available for

comment.

But his predecessor, Anand Singh Negi, told the BBC that the death of the

elephant could be called negligence to the extent that Arundhati " was not

given timely treatment " .

Mr Negi said there was no full-time vet attached to Rajaji National Park

where she lived.

Vets from wildlife institutes based in the state capital, Dehradun, had had

to be depended upon, he said.

Mr Negi said that as chief wildlife warden he had asked for two full-time

vets to be posted in Dehradun.

Although the government had accepted the proposal, it had never been

implemented, he said.

Arundhati's plight attracted much attention and animal lovers camped close

to the injured elephant for days.

Animal welfare activists were joined by former environment minister and

animal rights campaigner Maneka Gandhi, who expressed concern at the lack of

medical care for wildlife in India.

Ms Gandhi said there had been a delay in providing medical care to the

elephant.

She added that " we will not learn any lessons from this. The same mistake

will be repeated " .

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