Heroic efforts: Tamil Nadu forest team executes daring rescue of gaur trapped in 50-foot well

“I received a call immediately, and while heading to Tiruchy, we (the forest team) began brainstorming potential solutions to lift the gaur,” shared Dr Kalaivanan, who played a crucial role in devising rescue strategies, which were then executed by the Fire Department.

“Due to the absence of barriers in most of these wells, such incidents occur. When the bison grazes on the grass, they tend to slip and fall. Many cases have been reported around Manaparai, Thuvarankurichi, Ponnamaravathi, and Azhagar Kovil,” mentioned the vet, with over two decades of experience.

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Against the odds

The well, approximately 50 feet deep, had 25-30 feet of water. “Draining the water from the well to rescue the gaur would take too long. Therefore, I had to come up with a plan B. The gaur didn’t have space to rest down as it was filled with rocks. Typically, if the fall isn’t too deep, we would create a ramp, and the gaur can naturally climb up. But since, after a certain level, there were only rocks here, we didn’t have that option,” he explained.

The only viable option available was to lift the bison. “Delaying the operation by draining water out was not an option, as it might have jeopardised the animal’s life. So, we had to act swiftly,” he shared.

How a heartwarming collaborative effort of Foresters and local villagers in Tamil Nadu helped save the life of a Gaur ! Our foresters and Vets in Trichy safely rescued a Gaur ( Indian Bison) yesterday which had accidentally fallen into a 50 Ft deep natural water body in… pic.twitter.com/9LqWXSR9mD

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) January 30, 2024

To prevent drowning or aspiration from excessive water intake, the gaur’s horns were tied up. “This measure allowed the bison to rest,” he said. The team then affixed a chest belt and an abdomen belt, securing them with the assistance of a crane. 

“Both the face and body were safeguarded from drowning, enabling the gaur to rest. While we can physically lift the gaur, the challenge arises when it comes to releasing it. There are high chances of the bison attacking people, and these belts cannot be unfastened quickly,” he explained.

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Tale of triumph

To guarantee a safe and secure rescue, a mild sedation was administered to the gaur. 

Both the face and body were safeguarded from drowning, enabling the gaur to rest. (Supplied)

“After lifting the gaur, we removed the belts, administered reversal medicines, and provided supportive treatment to ensure pain and infection were addressed. We attended to some mild injuries as well. We provided it with some support for rumination — occurring from ingesting excessive water – and released it, after which it began moving towards the forest,” he shared.

Given the absence of natural threats for gaurs in this region, the population of the species in the range is stable.

“Such incidents are potentially more common in fringe areas. In their quest for water or crops, the gaurs might descend and accidentally fall into these open wells. Therefore, we are recommending that farmers construct barriers at least 4-5 feet high. This measure will not only safeguard the gaurs but also protect their families and livestock from accidental falls,” he advised.

Community effort

Acknowledging the efforts of the field workers, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Environment, Climate Change & Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, took to the social media platform X (previously Twitter) to express her appreciation for the rescuers.