Sidda, the wild elephant in Karnataka rescued over a month ago is still struggling for survival.
Sidda, the wild elephant struggling with an injured leg for over 50 days at a reserve forest near Bengaluru, is not responding to the treatment by local forest officials.
Last week, the forest department of Karnataka tried treating the injured animal - cleaning his pus filled wound and treating him with antibiotics - with the help of other trained elephants from Mysore. But Sidda's progress has not been good. He is being given drips, but is too weak to stand.
Exhibiting a never-say-die attitude, Sidda fought for his life on his own initially. For almost two months, he nursed his injured leg by spending much of his time in the waters of the Manchanabele Dam near Bengaluru.
Concerned locals living near the dam kept an eye on him - and animal lovers brought him food. Even though he would eat the crops growing by the side of dam, locals say they bore him no animosity. Many of them are disappointed that the forest department took so long to bring proper treatment to the ailing elephant.
One villager, Ramesh, told NDTV: "We knew the elephant. He would come and eat every day. He was fine earlier. But after his injury he has become weak. He would eat bananas, ragi - he wouldn't do anything to anyone. He would just eat and go."
If they had treated him earlier, that same day itself, he would have been fine. We feel so bad to see him like this, said Ramesh.
Srikant, another resident said, "This animal has been suffering in pain for 55 days. It looks as if it has been shot. Forest animals are the wealth of our state. If our state government had paid more attention earlier it would have been better. It feels as if our relative is suffering."
Kiran Kumar, an animal lover who visits Sidda often, echoes similar sentiment: "We have to educate all the people who own the land here so we respect an elephant like Sidda."
Meanwhile, a weak Sidda continues to suffer with a bad appetite despite constant care. All those who have seen the tusker, seem to be praying for his survival.