Narayangarh, October 24:

A tuberculosis-afflicted elephant died at the elephant yard in Sauraha today for want of medical treatment.

The 35-year-old elephant, christened Birendra Prasad, had been living in the pen of the Chitwan National Park, which boasts of the sole elephant breeding centre in the country. He had been recently shifted to Sauraha for medicare.

Birendra Prasad was brought to Chitwan 22 years ago, the year that the elephant breeding centre was set up. The park staff cremated him today. Last year, the Elephant Care International, an American organisation, found that 10 elephants at the park were found afflicted with tuberculosis.

Giridhari Chaudary, former executive chairman of the Sauarah Hotels’ Association, alleged that the elephant died because the park authorities did not pay attention to his treatment. Chief of the breeding centre Rameshwar Chaudhary said an affected elephant could infect others in the park. An elephant stricken with tuberculosis gets fever, cough and loses appetite, he said. Seven of the remaining TB-affected elephants are males, while two are females.

There is the quota for a veterinarian in the park, but there is none on duty there.

Elephant specialist Dr Kamal Giri said repeated requests have been made to the authorities concerned for the requisition, but to no avail.

The Forest Conservation Department did not release funds on time for the elephant’s treatment, said Dr Giri, adding that the park staffers were not even told what quantum of medicine should be elephant be administered to.