Rescued elephant calf returns to Ajjavara village

MANGALURU: An elephant calf that was among the four elephants rescued by the forest department on Thursday, has returned to the village where it was rescued. It may be recalled that four elephants trapped in a pond at Ajjavara village in Sullia taluk were rescued by the forest department.
However, one of the two calves returned to the village by evening on Thursday, leaving the herd. Following this, the forest staff have been taking care of the calf, and waiting for the other elephants to come back.
The forest officials had successfully rescued the elephants from the pond on Thursday. Deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Mangaluru division, Dinesh Kumar YK said that one of the calves aged about 3-5 months, has come back to the village. “The male calf got separated from its herd as it could not join them. We are waiting for the herd of elephants to come back, and take the calf back. Normally, the mother elephants are attached towards their calves. Our staff and veterinarians have been looking after the calf in the village,” the officer said.
In case the elephant herd does not return to take the calf to the forest, then the forest department will have to plan to shift it to any of the nearby camps, he said. “We have summoned trackers from Nagarhole and Dubare camps, to find the herd with the mother elephant in the forest. If they succeed in finding the herd, then the calf will be allowed to join them. Presently, we are taking care of it,” he added.
On Thursday, forest officials had rescued the elephants safely, by creating a ramp on the edge of the pond, by using an earthmover machine.