A baby elephant, injured in a leopard attack, was rescued in Wayanad’s Tirunelli and taken to Muthanga elephant camp after its herd rejected it.
Kalpetta: An elephant calf that ventured into the Tirunelli human settlement area in Wayanad was rescued and taken to the Muthanga elephant camp. The baby elephant had arrived in the Mullankolly area of Tirunelli two days ago, where Forest officials managed to capture it, provided medical care, and then released it back into the forest. However, when it was noticed that the herd did not get ready to take the elephant calf with it, the forest officials caught it again and brought it to the Muthanga elephant camp.
The calf, which had escaped a leopard attack, wandered into the human settlement area while fleeing. Locals were shocked to see the elephant calf roaming around in the yard and on the roads. They informed the Forest Department that the baby elephant was crying and running around in confusion. Following this, the RRT team and the Forest Department’s veterinary team, led by Dr Ajeesh Mohandas, arrived at the scene.
The calf, which had been injured by the leopard attack, was caught and taken for treatment. However, while attempting to catch the calf with a rope and net, it managed to escape. After an extended chase, it was eventually captured from a nearby yard. The calf was then taken to the Forest Range office, where its injured leg was treated before it was released into the wild later in the evening.
Forest officials had been monitoring whether the calf would join its herd. Upon observing that the calf was not accepted by the herd, they tried to send it back into the forest. However, as the calf again ventured into the human settlement area, Forest officials intervened and successfully brought it to the Muthanga elephant camp.