Orphaned elephant calf rescued after 80-kilometre trek in Madhya Pradesh

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Chaitanyesh
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Orphaned elephant calf rescued after 80-kilometre trek in Madhya Pradesh
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  • Baby elephants travels 80 kms in search of mother
  • It was found exhausted and nibbling on rice crops
  • Its mother had passed away owing to a neurotoxin

In a heart-wrenching rescue effort, a one-and-a-half-year-old elephant calf was saved after traveling nearly 80 kilometers alone in search of its deceased mother. The calf wandered from Bandhavgarh National Park to Katni, Madhya Pradesh, where it was found exhausted and nibbling on rice crops in Guda village, Katni district.

Also Read: Karnataka: Elephants travel 80kms to bid tearful adieu to a deceased herd member

The calf’s mother, along with nine other elephants, had tragically succumbed to a fungal neurotoxin, leaving the young elephant confused and desperate. Villagers, moved by the calf’s plight, quickly informed the forest department. Forest officials kept a vigilant watch overnight as the calf roamed the banks of the Chhoti Mahanadi river.

At dawn, a large rescue team of nearly 100 personnel from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Katni, and Umaria districts, accompanied by four elephants, arrived to secure the calf. After gentle efforts, the team safely transported it back to Bandhavgarh in a pick-up vehicle, with villagers observing the scene with mixed emotions.

Local villager Mahendra Singh recounted how the weary calf had resorted to eating rice crops, too tired and hungry to find its way. Forest officials, now closely monitoring the area, have ramped up patrols to prevent other elephants from straying.

Despite the successful rescue, the calf remains in distress, refusing food, including bananas. Officials are carefully observing it for signs of distress or reactions to administered sedatives. Plans are underway to conduct a DNA test to confirm whether the calf’s mother was among the 10 deceased elephants.

The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of these majestic creatures and the dedication of the community and forest officials to protect them, sparking both sadness and hope for the calf’s recovery.

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