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The sad end of a determined Elephant “Banga Bahadur: is dead –Long live “Banga Bahadur” No, Banga Bahadur is nsither a king nor an emperor.. Therefore, the traditional proclamation made following the accession of a new monarch is not applicable here. Banga Bhadur is the name given to an elephant by those who tried to save the animal from inevitable death and send it back to the herd in Assam, India where it belonged before the flood waters swept him down the river Brahmaputra . He entered Bangladesh through Roumari and traveled through Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj before reaching Jamalpur. Banga Bahadur was presumably trying to get back to his herd and swam across the Brahmaputra twice. But the strong current kept taking him further down stream. Repeated efforts, from both Bangladesh and India, to facilitate his return home ended in failure. Readers, who love wild animals, may find the following story touching abd most fascinating to read and I take this opportunity to reproduce here under the story that Shah Husain Imam wrote about this great wild elephant and published it in the local English language newspaper ‘The Daily Star” on August 19.2016. An elephant eloquent, instructive in his death “If while living, the wild animal had animated us, in death it has enlightened us. We saw and felt its nearly six-week long odyssey through the elements of nature before he died—all live and palpable. The educative effect of experiencing the saga first hand has been more pronounced on our minds than perhaps watching a dozen episodes on the Discovery and National Geographic channel, among others. We gave it a name in its dying moments-Banga Bahadur - almost with a posthumous ring to it. But we gave it alright with love and empathy for an animal in dire distress, its occasional rampaging fury regardless, primarily owing to its circumstances. In part, it may also have been a conscience-salving gesture for not being able to do as much for its rescue as we should have. Let's, however, highlight a wildlife interest in the fact that the animal must have had a herd identity, a surname, so to speak. It could not have been anonymous among elephants that live in herds. What's particularly relevant is, they have 'deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal groups led by the oldest and often largest female in the herd.' One can thus feel in one's bones the pain and trauma the wild elephant, separated from its herd by severe flooding in Assam, must have gone through all the way down to Bangladesh. Totally disconnected from its habitat and without a mother figure, sibling or a friendly companion to look up to, Banga Bahadur was thrown completely off- gear, disoriented and dazed. Sucked on to the roller-coaster journey of well over a 1000km (Western media puts it at 1700km), the animal cascaded, turned, rolled over and violently pushed around the contours, landing on shallow waters, chars or marshy pockets. We know that wild elephants can swim but that it could for such a long distance was a revelation! Two astounding features of elephant behavior are their high intelligence and memory levels. Banga Bahadur must have used some of these in howsoever a minuscule degree to navigate to safety. It is the memory that serves the herd chief during dry seasons to guide the flock to watering holes tens of miles away that it had seen a long time ago. They also display, wildlife experts have found, signs of grief, joy, anger and playfulness. It must have been terribly unsettling for the elephant that despite having an ability to communicate among its peers, it was so rudely left incommunicado to begin with. For all we know, the animal can communicate over long distances by producing 'a subsonic rumble that can travel over the ground faster than sound through air. Often elephants receive the messages through the sensitive skins on their feet and trunks.' Sadly, none of these could have worked for Banga Bahadur! It is interesting to note, however, that Banga Bahadur at one stage returned to the spot he had once unshackled himself from to jump into a pond, apparently of its own volition. So left to himself, given his superbly brainy navigation of the Brahmaputra and managing to get by some 45 days, he could have survived the ordeal with the human assistance around. The priority was not to be hung up on tranquilizers, but to let his body mechanism take over with nutrient doses administered for his recovery. The per day food intake of 300—400 lbs, that he on the whole missed for six weeks, was too much of a drag on his strength to be able to keep standing for any effective length of time. The security concern could not have been insurmountable. On the contrary, a 30-feet trunk-to-tail long animal, weighing around four tones and that too gone weak and tired (the smallest truck is 5 tones) looked highly manageable. Rather than point finger at each other, we should concentrate on staying prepared with specialized, auto-reflexive equipment and manpower base to respond on a short notice to a similar challenge in future. We must pay heed to the following, “Preservation of wildness enhances both our capacity and our worthiness as a species and a civilization, to survive on the earth.” Asian elephants are listed by IUCN 'as endangered' while their African cousins are categorized 'as near threatened.' With the Asian elephants reduced to 35,000—40,000, we would not have been one short of that dismal number if we had saved Banga Bahadur.” Sources and Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Star and ShahHusain Imam       |
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he end was sad!
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A very sad story. Thanks for posting. Alfie...
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Yes, it's a shame Banga Bhadur couldn't be saved from death or returned to his herd. Much can be learned from this experience as you say by being prepared for similar challenges in future [where possible]. Distressing to viewers, it was a privilege nonetheless to be able to follow his perilous journey as his suffering took people out of themselves, indirectly unifying through common concern (?)
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Very sad story of such a magnificent animal.
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Sad 
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A very sad story. Thanks for posting. Alfie... Have a nice time.
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Yes, it's a shame Banga Bhadur couldn't be saved from death or returned to his herd. Much can be learned from this experience as you say by being prepared for similar challenges in future [where possible]. Distressing to viewers, it was a privilege nonetheless to be able to follow his perilous journey as his suffering took people out of themselves, indirectly unifying through common concern (?)
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Very sad story of such a magnificent animal.
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Sad
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Oh!...It mus have been terrible for the poor elephant this adventure, fighting against the power of Brahmaputra, that finished with his dead... Sad story! Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.(Khalil Gibran)
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments that you have left here on my blog! I should also thank you gratefully for the nice words you have spoken about my blogs! Perhaps I could not explain to you in detail why Banga Bahadur---- the elephant--- could not be saved in spite of constant endeavor by our people who were entrusted with the job. They are trained men and are employed by the Forest Department of our Government. Indian Government also sent three of their trained persons to help our men to rescue the elephant from death and send him back to the herd he belonged in Assam, India. But all efforts failed. The area where the elephant was being located from time to time remains under water all the times. It is a swamp area with no easy access there. A four tone animal is not easy to be removed from such a submerged area even after the animal could be tranquilized Hope you could now understand the situation the rescuer of two neighboring countries found themselves.. Thank you once again for taking interest on this sad matter. Hope you are keeping well. Wishing you all the best. Take Care always.
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Oh!...It mus have been terrible for the poor elephant this adventure, fighting against the power of Brahmaputra, that finished with his dead... Sad story! Really, delighted to see you again here reading my blog on a poor elephant born in the upper part of Assam, India but breathed her last in Jabalpur. Bangladesh---- many hundred miles away from where he was born and lived until the flood water swept him down to our country. It is really sad our people along wit three Indians tried to save the elephant but could not though they tried tirelessly for forty five days. We all are helpless when nature gets angry of its own. Best wishes, Glumo/, God bless you,
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Such a sad story.
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Such a sad story. No doubt, it is a sad story. The elephant was however born free and died free too. Still, we mourn for his violent death. Stay happy and well. Best wishes.
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