What was intended to be a journey of healing for the 48-year-old female injured elephant Maniki, tragically turned into a harrowing ordeal.

Forced to walk nearly 95 kilometres in search of medical treatment in Dibrugarh, her suffering sparked widespread outrage across Assam and left netizens heartbroken.

Maniki became the focus of public attention after a distressing video went viral, showing her painfully limping along a highway.

Her left foreleg, deformed from a long-standing injury, struggled under the weight of her body as she trudged forward with a mahout seated atop her.

Having begun her journey on August 1, 2025, from Kakopathar in Tinsukia, she managed to cover only 36 kilometres over six exhausting days.

Her pain was evident with every step she took. This suffering could have been avoided, as the local forest department had instructed her owner, Ruchi Chetia, to transport her by truck—an order he chose to ignore.

Maniki’s plight began to shift when local residents intervened with compassion.

On August 6, 2025, Krishna Majhi, a resident of Makum, offered her temporary shelter, giving her a brief respite from the exhausting journey.

The video’s circulation online prompted a surge of public indignation, eventually forcing authorities to take action. On August 7, 2025, Thursday, a team comprising district officials, forest staff, veterinarians, and animal welfare activists arrived at Majhi’s home to assess Maniki’s condition.

Immediate medical treatment was provided, and a mandatory three-day rest period was ordered. Plans were put in place to transport her by truck to either Kaziranga or Guwahati for specialised veterinary care.

“A blatant disregard for official instructions cannot be excused,” The Times of India reported quoting a forest department official who assured that Maniki would receive the necessary care.

“Proper transport and medical support are now in place, and legal proceedings will follow once investigations conclude,” he added.

The incident provoked strong reactions from wildlife conservationists, who condemned the cruelty inflicted upon the elephant.

“Forcing an injured elephant to walk such a long distance is nothing short of inhumane. The owner must be held accountable,” TOI further reported quoting activist Niranta Gohain.

Maniki’s injury dates back to a tragic incident two years ago, when a heavy log fell on her leg while she was in Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite efforts to treat the wound, it never healed properly, leaving her permanently disabled. In recent weeks, her condition had worsened significantly, making urgent and specialised medical attention absolutely critical.

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