Chennai (Tamil Nadu): The job of the forest department officials is to fondle wild animals with love pledging their own lives in the process.
In particular, the plight of the veterinary doctors attached to the forest department can only be imagined and indescribable in words.
A few years ago, it was reported that an elephant calf was dying due to ill health in the Satyamangalam forest in Tamil Nadu.
When forest officials approached the baby elephant, they found that it was almost dead.
A thrilling two-day medical care pursued after which the baby elephant was reunited with its mother.
The mother elephant was seen shedding tears and looking in gratitude at Tamil Nadu Forest Department's veterinarian Dr Asoka, affectionately known to wildlife activist Krish Asokan.
Dr Asokan, who joined the service as casually as all veterinarians in 1990, had a deep love for the work of Dr Krishnamurthy, then fondly known as the Elephant Doctor. His love for wild elephants grew up as he carried along with Dr Krishnamurthy for many years.
Dr Asokan has treated more than 50 elephants during his 30 years of tenure.
He shared an unforgettable incident to ETV Bharat that happened in his life.
In 1998, the Kerala government decided to shoot down an elephant that had killed more than 20 people in the Mudumalai region on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
When wildlife activists protested this move, they decided to capture the elephant.
It was only after the elephant was captured after a long struggle, it was revealed that it was a Makhna elephant with about 22 bullets pierced into its body.
The elephant was completely cured by incessant clinical care of Dr Asokan who looked after the elephant for a year.
Dr Asokan said that he will never be able to forget this throughout his life.
Asokan also said that "Elephants can be treated and saved only by those who have full knowledge about the animal and who can understand the psychology of the elephants. Till now, some 20 elephants have been saved. We have to preserve the Makhna elephants as they are best for breeding. The Makhna elephants are also well known for their enormous mass."
Asokan said that saving a baby elephant gave him a great experience and his joy at that time knew no bounds.
Many who study veterinary medicine are reluctant to take up the medical profession related to wildlife.
Asokan said that it is very easy to treat wild animals once their mental behaviour is understood well.
Normally a female elephant conceives up to five cubs in her life. Elephant enthusiasts say that saving a female elephant is equivalent to saving five elephants as a whole.
The work of Dr Asokan, who has spent 30 years of his life protecting the sublime lives of the forest, is immense.
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