A 16-year-old captive male elephant, Mangal Singh, has undergone a complex dental procedure in Assam’s Margherita after poachers brutally hacked off both his tusks near the roots, leaving the animal with exposed pulp cavities and a prolonged risk of severe infection.
A specialised veterinary team performed a partial pulpotomy on Wednesday to treat the damaged tusks and prevent further complications.
The incident took place in April in the Dhulijan forest area of Lakhipathar in Digboi, where the poachers cut off both tusks close to their roots. Mangal Singh suffered heavy bleeding, while the exposed pulp cavities subsequently became infected.
The elephant is owned by a private individual in Margherita. Following the attack, his distress calls alerted local residents, who informed the Digboi Forest Department. Veterinary teams then began emergency treatment and continued monitoring his condition.
Dr Mehedi Hassan, veterinary surgeon with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), said Mangal Singh was in critical condition during the initial days following the attack and suffered severe blood loss. Since the tusks had been cut close to the roots, the exposed pulp cavities remained vulnerable to persistent infection despite regular treatment.
As Mangal Singh was born in captivity and has strong social bonds with the family and surroundings where he grew up, the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) decided not to move him to an unfamiliar location. The team felt that relocation could cause additional stress and increase the risk of complications.
Given his prolonged suffering and continuing infection risk, a joint veterinary team led by Dr Bhaskar Choudhury of WTI carried out the specialised partial pulpotomy in Margherita on August 26.
The multidisciplinary team included retired professor Dr Bhupen Sarma, an expert in elephant anaesthesia; an orthodontic team from Tinsukia led by Dr Abhishek Ojha; senior veterinarians from the Animal Husbandry Department, Dr Rabi Shankar Choudhury and Dr Bishwajit Barua; and WTI veterinarian Dr Mehedi Hassan.
Rohini Kumar Das, DFO, Digboi, said local veterinarians experienced in handling elephants had been treating Mangal Singh for several months. However, the exposed pulp cavities required closure through a partial pulpotomy. The veterinary team will provide post-operative care and closely monitor the elephant for the next seven days.
Dr Bhaskar Choudhury, CWRC Centre Manager and lead veterinarian at WTI, said the incident was deeply distressing and highlighted the need for stronger protection of elephants, including those under private ownership.
“It is disheartening to see this majestic sub-adult tusker suffer such brutality,” he said, adding that the immediate priority was to ensure Mangal Singh receives the treatment and care required for his recovery.
WTI CEO Jose Louies said the case demonstrated the serious physical and psychological consequences of illegal ivory-related activities and underlined the need for stronger protection measures, continued vigilance and swift action against wildlife criminals.
The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation, located near Kaziranga National Park, is jointly run by the Assam Forest Department, the Wildlife Trust of India and IFAW.