GUWAHATI:
A wild male buffalo emerged from the forest on May 25 and took a walk on the streets of Guwahati before it was tranquillized and led back to the forest.
The buffalo was seen on the streets of Kharghuli area in Guwahati before it strayed onto the campus of JWIL Water Project. On spotting the animal, the workers immediately informed the police and forest department officials, who took charge of the situation.
“The male buffalo entered the Kharguli area yesterday morning by crossing the Brahmaputra and stayed in the campus of JWIL Water Project. A team of Narengi Beat under Guwahati Range immediately rushed to the spot and carried necessary protection duty along with a veterinary team of Assam State Zoo, Protection Range and Amchung Wildlife Range,” said Pranjal Baruah, Range Officer, Guwahati Forest Range.
“The veterinary team conducted the tranquillization operation and successfully darted the animal at about 2:50 pm,” Baruah said.
The animal had been tranquilized once on Wednesday afternoon, but it then moved to an inaccessible location and hence could not be transported back to the forest.
“The buffalo was given two doses of tranquillizer and then transported to the Garbhanga Wild Life Sanctuary immediately after medical examination by veterinary officer Dr Sankar Sarma of the Assam State Zoo,” Baruah said.
“In the afternoon at about 2:30 pm the animal was reversed from the sedation and then released successfully deep inside the Garbhanga Wild Life Sanctuary with the help of the staff of South Guwahati Forest Range,” he added.