India returns Pregnant Elephant back to Bangladesh

An elephant that entered Tripura last month from neighbouring Bangladesh and triggered panic among the people in various parts of the state has been handed over to Bangladeshi authorities, an official said.

“Forest officials handed over the pregnant elephant to the BSF (Border Security Force) officers who in turn gave it to the officers of BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) after holding a flag meeting late Saturday,” a senior forest official told reporters.

A huge number of people have gathered on the both sides of the Akhaurah check post, near here, to witness the event.

Three more elephants along with an expert mahout (elephant keeper) from Bangladesh received the pachyderm from the Indian side.

“After entering into Tripura, the elephant, belonging to a circus company in Bangladesh, had travelled more than 100 km through various habitations and forests before it was caught by the forest officials after 11 days of hectic efforts,” Tripura’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanatan Talukdar told IANS.

The animal, which was also treated by the doctors before its handing over, however, did not cause any damage to property in Tripura.