KRISHNAGIRI: In a shocking eye-opener, the Forest department staff’s bid in Krishnagiri district to reunite an abandoned jumbo calf with her family went awry, with the death of the animal. The female calf died in an attack by some adult elephants not of her family, but of a different herd.
On Friday, the Forest personnel entered the reserved forest in Rayakottai range to check the status of the three-month-old female jumbo that was sent inside the forest in a bid to reunite the baby elephant with her mother.
However, the Forest staff, while at lakkachandaram village, found the calf lying on the ground. A herd of adult elephants were also standing at the place not allowing them to reach the calf.
“Our staff found the calf at around 8.15 am. The baby was lying on the ground and guarded by a herd of adult elephants” A forest officer on anonymity told DC.
He added, “The herd at the place prevented our staff from reaching the calf.
They were moved by bursting crackers and the calf was rescued two hours after she was spotted by us.”According to official sources, the injuries on its body showed that the calf was attacked by the adult elephants in the herd when the baby elephant tried to join the new family.
The injured calf was moved to the nearest anti-poaching camp, where the veterinarian gave treatment for the injured elephant but its health condition became worse.
Unfortunately, the baby elephant died while the animal was transported to the Ayyur forest guest house. The carcass of the animal was buried after conducting postmortem.
The calf was saved from the irrigation well at Pavadaipatti village, near Rayakottai. The wild animal had fallen into the well without water, ten days ago while the family to which the calf belonged had crossed the place.
