Veterinarians treat baby elephant that was injured in the leg and was abandoned by its herd in China

A small elephant (from the herd on a pilgrimage) whose leg was seriously injured, veterinarians managed to cure him, public television reported Tuesday.

The herd of 15 elephants left their nature reserve in the southwest of the country in an unusual way and has been moving for several months through the southern province of Yunnan, bordering Laos and Burma.

This unusual trip has fascinated the Chinese, to the point that the official CCTV television broadcasts live over the internet even the smallest gestures of the pachyderms.

Drones and security agents constantly monitor the herd in order to evacuate the populations through which they pass and thus be able to limit the damage, which already amounts to more than one $1.2 million.

On Saturday, villagers reported the presence of a baby elephant injured in the leg, wandering alone in a tea plantation.

The 180 kg animal, born during the pilgrimage, had been abandoned by the rest, according to CCTV.

In the images, several lifeguards surround the animal, agitated and debating among themselves. They then load him into a van to be transferred to a veterinary center.

The elephant’s wound could have been fatal if it had not been treated in time, according to the network.

“We administer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medications due to the fact that his wound is still quite severe.” Bao Mingwei, from the Asian Elephant Center, told television.

The mammal “was probably injured by rattan thorns (a type of tropical palm tree from Southeast Asia) and his wound became infected.” Bao pointed out.

Wild elephants are protected in China, with an estimated population of 300, down from less than 200 in the 1980s. They are found exclusively in the tropical and tourist region of Xishuangbanna.

Zoologists have not yet been able to determine why the herd abandoned its vast reserve.

But their journey has raised awareness among the general public regarding the loss of their habitat and the challenges for their survival, in one of the few places in the world where the number of wild specimens is increasing.