The wild male elephant in Assam’s Golaghat district was saved after a huge tractor tyre was so tight around its neck that it was in severe distress and threatened to be killed. The Forest Department was quick to respond, and the heavy tyre was removed from the animal safely so that the animal could recover and go back to the wild.
The incident was reported in the Bakial forest-block area of Morongi in Golaghat district, where the elephant was seen moving around with the unusually large tyre firmly stuck around its neck. The elephant was left with severe injuries if it was trapped for a long time; the tyre appeared to be restricting the elephant in the first place, the report said.
The distressed elephant was witnessed near populated areas in Numaligarh. Its unusual movement and discomfort were apparent, and local people were particularly concerned for the animal’s safety. The elephant was seen to be potentially dangerous to people living nearby (both workers and tourists) so authorities were alerted so a safe rescue operation could be carried out.
Khumtai BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia took the matter to senior wildlife officials and the Forest Department. He also urged residents to remain calm and not gather around the elephant. People were told not to make loud noises or disturb the animal to avoid any unnecessary human activity and to save the jumbo from stress.
The Assam Forest Department brought in a team to rescue the elephant immediately after the alert. The operation was led on the ground by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Sandeep and was done carefully so that the elephant could be freed without causing more injuries.
Removing a large tyre from the neck of a wild elephant is a very difficult task. A frightened or injured elephant can be unpredictable to the rescue team, and so the response team had to act with caution because of the magnitude of the situation. At the same time, officials also had to work hard to remove the tyre from the animal without hurting it and not putting frontline personnel at risk.
Forest Officials Brave Distressed Elephant To Remove Tyre 🐘
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 11, 2026
A wild elephant was spotted in Assam's Golaghat with a large tractor tyre stuck around its neck, prompting an urgent rescue operation.
Forest and veterinary teams worked for hours to safely free the animal.
Assam… pic.twitter.com/Ou3QASYITy
After a careful intervention, the Forest Department team managed to remove the tyre from the elephant’s neck safely. Wildlife officials and people living along the animal’s route were relieved as a result of the successful operation.
The elephant was kept under observation to check its condition before being allowed to return to its herd and continue moving through its natural habitat. A successful rescue highlighted the need for rapid cooperation between local communities, elected representatives, and wildlife authorities when animals are found in distress.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also acknowledged the rescue operation on social media. No one, whether human or animal, will be left in distress in Assam, he said, and pointed out that the tyre was found around the elephant's neck immediately, and hence the tyre was taken off as immediate action was taken. The tyre posed a major threat to the elephant’s life, and so it was removed to help the elephant return to his herd, he said.
Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also praised the frontline Forest Department personnel for their swift response. The teams had taken action immediately after they received information about the elephant and carried out the rescue with utmost care and caution.
The minister appreciated the hard work and dedication of forest workers in rescuing a large wild animal. Wildlife should be protected against human interference, while personnel in such an operation should be safe, he added.
The incident has once again highlighted the difficulties faced by wild animals living close to human settlements. Elephants often travel through forest corridors and areas near villages, roads, and agricultural land. Human-elephant interactions can be dangerous for animals, especially if they get injured or trapped by objects left in or around the forest.
The successful Golaghat rescue is a reminder to all those who waste and not to be oblivious to wildlife habitats. Discarded tyres and other large objects can become a threat to animals when they are exposed to wildlife corridors.
And the rescued elephant has been given a chance to recover from the trauma and return to the herd. Assam’s Forest Department intervened right away in an emergency and saved a life that could have become life-threatening, and made the case that wildlife emergencies must be handled quickly.
