Kamlapur camp jumbo’s calf born in forest dies

Chandrapur: Death of a calf of 32-year-old elephant Mangala in suspicious circumstances soon after delivery has once again raised several questions over the affairs at the Kamlapur elephant camp in Gadchiroli.
Mangala delivered the calf deep inside the jungle on Monday, but the baby died by the time foresters reached the spot.
Official sources said there are eight elephants, two males and six females, in Kamlapur camp. The eldest elephant Mangala was pregnant and her delivery was expected anytime in January or February. Even though Mangala was in the final stage of pregnancy, she along with the entire herd was regularly sent into the forest. Mangala delivered the calf in the forest sometime on Monday and by the time caretakers reached the spot, the newborn had died.
“The calf died due to utter negligence of forest officials managing the camp. There is no permanent veterinary doctor in the camp to take care of the elephants. When it was obvious that Mangala was in the final phase of pregnancy, why was she not kept under close watch of a veterinary doctor,” said social worker Santosh Tatikondawar from Kamlapur.
Tatikondawar, who had moved the high court opposing transfer of Kamlapur elephants to Gujarat, said he is going to file a petition on the overall negligence towards the caretaking of the elephants in the camp.
Deputy conservator of forest, Sironcha forest division, Poonam Pate, claimed cause of death of the calf is uncertain. Postmortem was carried out by Tadoba veterinary officer Dr Ravikant Khobragade and others, but cause of death could not be ascertained. Doctors have collected samples of viscera and its report from the forensic lab could shed light on the cause of death. Condition of Mangala is good, she added.
Sources expressed fear that the newborn calf died due to endotheliotropic herpesvirus infection. Three offspring of Mangala — Aditya, Saee and Arjun — had died quite young in the past. It was also confirmed that two of them had died of herpesvirus infection, which can cause lethal haemorrhagic disease in juvenile Asian elephants, sources added.