The Indian Army, the sentinels of our borders not only play a vital role in helping citizens in times of distress but also wild animals. Doing precisely this is a team from the Bengal Sappers who in collaboration with Wildlife SOS, a non-governmental organisation, are helping to move a 35-year-old elephant, Moti, whose front leg is fractured.

Malnourished, deprived of veterinary help, Moti with a broken leg and worn off footpads was found by Wildlife SOS Mathura team in a critical condition. He had collapsed and was unable to stand up leading to deterioration of his kidney and heart.

It was important to make him get up and for this NGO took the help of former Chief of Army, Gen. V.K. Singh who reached out to the Army Chief and Chief of Engineers to help.

Responding promptly, a team from the Bengal Sappers headed by a Lieutenant Colonel drove through the night to reach the spot where Moti is located on Sunday morning. The team in association with the NGO veterinary doctors is right now working to erect a kraal, an enclosure or a structure that will get Moti up and give him an outside chance, if at all.

In 2016 too Wildlife SOS had been similarly assisted by Madras Sappers division of the Indian Army to erect a kraal to help Siddha, a tusker who had fallen off a dam and broken his leg.

Thanking the Indian Army for deploying the Bengal Sappers to assist in their last ditch effort to help Moti, Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO of Wildlife SOS, said: “This is such a patriotic effort to help India’s heritage animal and an endangered species. We are also grateful to the Forest Department and the custodian of Moti elephant for their cooperation and support.”