Concerns Rise Over Collared Elephant ‘Durga’ as Health Deteriorates

A wild female Asian Elephant named “Durga” has been spotted in Golaghat–Karbi Anglong with a heavy, non-functional radio collar still stuck on her neck, raising serious welfare concerns.

The collar, fitted in 2023, reportedly weighs around 20 kg and has not detached despite its battery being dead. Observers say the elephant is limping and in poor health, with veterinary reports confirming her deteriorating condition.

Activists have accused authorities and the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation of inaction, despite appeals for urgent treatment and collar removal. However, forest officials have claimed the animal appears normal and under monitoring.