• Video of Drona shivering and collapsing goes viral on social media
• Nagarahole Chief Conservator of Forests asks Veterinarian to submit report

Mysuru: Following the video of Dasara-fame elephant Drona (39)  shivering and collapsing on the ground resulting in its death going viral in the social media, animal lovers have alleged  negligence on the part of forest officials at the Mathigodu elephant camp inside the Nagarahole National Park near Thithimathi, which led to Drona’s death.

They have alleged that the elephant was found shivering due to illness and animal’s caretakers had brought the issue to the notice of officials. If the officials had acted fast, Drona could have been saved, they said.

The post-mortem which was conducted yesterday revealed that Drona died of massive heart attack and Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.

Drona, which had taken part in the world famous Jumboo Savari twice, was considered as the future Ambari elephant.  The 2.09 minute video shows Mahouts and Kavadis spraying water on Drona to revive it in vain.

Fear of Anthrax:  As wild animals infected with Anthrax die suddenly, the sudden death of Drona has caused a sense of fear among the forest officials. Suspecting that Drona may have been infected with Anthrax, the Forest officials have sent samples of dung and blood of Drona to the Mysuru Veterinary Hospital Laboratory.

The Forest Officials, who were waiting for the lab report, did not conduct the post-mortem on Friday night. Security to the carcass of Drona was in place on Friday night and post-mortem was conducted yesterday only after the lab report confirmed that the death was not due to Anthrax.

Post-mortem: The post-mortem was conducted by Veterinarians Dr. D.N. Nagaraju and Dr. Mujeeb during which it came to be known that Drona suffered from massive heart attack and there were traces of Drona suffering from Haemorrhagic Septicaemia. It also came to be known that Drona had suffered from multi organ failure. As its kidneys were not functioning normally, liquid was collected in its stomach as Drona was unable to urinate.

Viscera sent to lab: After the post-mortem, the viscera – lungs, intestines, blood from the heart, kidney and liver of Drona were sent to Mysuru Veterinary Hospital Laboratory from where it was sent to a laboratory in Bengaluru. The lab report will be received within a week and it is only after receiving the report the exact cause of Drona’s death would be known.

Drona was hale and healthy:  Drona was hale and healthy and had gone into the forest for grazing on Thursday. He was normal till 9 am on Friday.

But at about 9.45 am, he was found leaning to the tree to which he was tied with its trunk coiled around it and taking support with its tusks which was noticed by its Mahout Gunda and Kavadi Ravi.

At about 10 am, Gunda went near Drona and tried to feed jaggery but Drona tried to push him away with its trunk. Gunda immediately called other mahouts and sought their help. The mahouts who rushed to the spot began to spray water from the tank on Drona. But Drona, who was unable to stand steadily, began to sway and suddenly collapsed on the ground.

It is a rare death: “The death of Drona has shocked us. The death that occurred in front of everyone in such a short time has never happened before. Drona behaved the way humans behave while suffering heart attack. The death of a promising elephant is a tragedy.” Vetrinarian Dr. D.N. Nagaraju.

CCF seeks report

Nagarahole Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Narayanaswamy has sought a report from Vetrinarian Dr. Nagaraju. He said that though Drona is suspected to have died of massive heart attack, the exact reason for its death would be known after receiving the laboratory report. He said that he has asked Dr. Nagaraju to investigate and submit a report to him besides stating that further action would be taken only after receiving the report.

It never suffered from any illness even once

I am taking care of Drona since five years and not even once had I given him any tablets, he was that healthy. I am deeply pained by its death. I had gone for the treatment of a wild elephant which was found sick at Booditittu in Periyapatna when I heard about Drona. I immediately left the place to rush to Drona’s aid and I received the death news mid way. I was at the spot within half-an-hour and inspected Drona, but it was dead, said Veterinarian Dr. Mujeeb.