Ramu, the 40-year old wild tusker, could not survive the grievous injuries it sustained three years ago despite the effort of a dedicated team from Nandankanan Zoological Park and Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). It succumbed to its injuries on Wednesday.

The team worked hard for the last 72 hours to save the life of the tusker but all efforts went in vain.

Sources said the tusker had sustained injuries on its leg, suspected to be caused by poacher's traps. “Ramu had also been treated by the medical team of the Nandankanan Zoo and OUAT three years ago and was released to the forest. Perhaps it seems that the injuries from that time eventually led to its death,” said a local scribe, Saoj Paikray.

The tusker Ramu travelled 40km from Nargada in Khurda district to Hariharapura forest near Ranpur in Nayagarh district on Sunday. The tusker was found in a helpless condition.

Dr Santosh Gupta, who was treating Ramu told The Telegraph: “After we learned about it, we rushed to the spot. We tranquilised the tusker. Despite the immediate response and treatment, the tusker passed away on Wednesday morning.”