Elephant calf bites bomb, injured

COIMBATORE: A two-year-old elephant calf, which bit a country-made bomb planted in a farm while grazing, suffered injuries as the bomb exploded in its mouth at Ponnuthu village near Thudiyalur on the city outskirts.

Farmers in Ponnuthu village near Thudiyalur had planted the country made explosives in the farmland to prevent the wild boars from ravaging the groundnut crops. However, the calf, fell victim to the explosive on Wednesday night. When the calf picked up the explosive by its trunk, mistaking it for a vegetable or fruit, the explosive went off. The villagers said that the little calf trumpeted in pain and retreated into the woods.  The farmers also added that the calf sustained injuries in its trunk and jaws.

A team of anti-poaching watchers, forest guard and foresters has launched a search for the injured calf in the adjacent forests to provide medical treatment.