Elephant dies after 1,000-mile journey to escape monsoon floods

Animal named 'the Hero of Bengal' by local villagers for epic journey across country

The tranquillised female elephant lies on the ground after being pulled from a pond by Bangladesh forest officials and villagers in the Jamalpur district (AFP/Getty Images)

An Indian elephant that travelled more than 1,000 miles from its home after floods separated it from its herd, has died after becoming trapped in a swamp.

The animal, named ‘The Hero of Bengal’ by locals, was tranquilised after attempts to rescue it and transfer it to a nearby safari park, following its lengthy journey from north-east India to Bangladesh’s Jamalpur district.

Veterinary experts believe the animal was swept away by powerful river currents and dragged from its relatives as severe monsoon floods affected the Assam region of India.

The animal is believed to have charged into the swamp after being shot with tranquiliser darts by forest officials, and a group of villiagers jumped into the water to prevent it from drowning.

A elephant trainer was left critically injured in hospital after being kicked by the tranquilised elephant on Monday afternoon, according to local reports.

The elephant was then given saline and chained in a paddy field but died of exhaustion and dehydration shortly after, local conservators confirmed. More than 10 police officers and vets had been in charge of following the animal and attempting to rescue it.

Government wildlife expert Ashit Ranjan Paul said conservators had “given [their] highest effort to save the animal” but “bad luck” meant it was not enough to save the animal.

He complained the team’s rescue efforts had been hampered by “thousands of villagers who followed it every day as it entered into Bangladesh” and said the elephant was too tired to go on.

The elephant had become progressively weaker over a number of weeks without access to adequate food amidst the rising flood waters, he said.

A post-mortem report has been ordered to examine the circumstances surrounding the animal’s death.