6 days ago
Back from brink: Injured Kanha Tiger makes triumphant return after 15 days of treatment
BHOPAL: For 15 days in the heat of April-May, a team of wildlife veterinarians trailed a severely injured tiger in Kanha Reserve that seemed to be limping towards death. In a remarkable feat of field medicine, they treated the tiger in the jungle and watched it get back on its feet, regain its vigour and lord over the jungle again.
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Back from the brink, it took down a 'gaur' (Indian bison) on Wednesday. And its healers were there to quietly cherish the moment. The story began during a routine patrol in early April, when forest staff spotted tiger T118 in distress. It sat next to a waterbody, panting and struggling to get to its feet. Injuries were visible even from a distance. It was in no condition to hunt and would starve to death if the infection didn't kill it sooner.
On April 19, a vet team arrived on elephant back, found it in the same location, in a much worse condition. There were deep wounds on its face and limbs. Pus had accumulated.
The vets weren't sure if it would survive the journey if they tried to take it to a wildlife hospital. They put together a field treatment plan. After safely tranquilizing the tiger, veterinarians cleaned and sterilised its injuries and administered a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and antiseptic wound care.
Over the next 15 days, oral medications were consistently provided, supported by continuous monitoring.
It was a herculean task. It took 10-12 men just to turn it over after it was sedated.
Against the odds, T118 began to show signs of recovery. When it began running about, the vets stopped medication but kept up the close supervision with the elephant squad.
When they saw it hunt a gaur, they knew their work was done. "This is a proud moment for us," said a senior Kanha official. "It's not about saving one tiger. It's about refining and validating a model of conservation that treats wildlife in situ - in their natural habitat - with minimal human intervention."
