Bhubaneswar/Kendujhar: An elephant calf estimated to be between 15 days and one month old was rescued and reunited with its herd following a coordinated operation by the Forest Department in Kendujhar district, officials said on Thursday.
The rescue operation was carried out on the night of August 19 after the calf fell into a minor irrigation canal of the KIP near Jamudalak village under Champua Range. The canal was around 3-4 feet wide, and the calf’s mother had been trying to pull it out.
As the incident occurred close to the village, a large number of local residents gathered at the spot. Forest personnel managed the crowd and maintained a safe environment for the elephants. Champua Range Officer Sagar Nayak and his team reached the location and assessed the situation.
The Forest Department, with the assistance of villagers, blocked and diverted the flow of water in the canal, reducing the water level and making it easier for the mother elephant to reach her calf.
ACF Sudipta Panda, along with the Division Wildlife team, field staff, Rapid Response Team members and local volunteers, subsequently joined the operation. A drone was deployed to track the elephants and assist in guiding the mother towards the nearest steps leading out of the canal.
The mother elephant eventually managed to lead the calf out of the canal. However, about 200 metres away, the pair became temporarily trapped between a transformer fence and a garden fence on the village side.
The rescue team maintained a safe distance and monitored the situation. Within about 15 minutes, the mother guided the calf through a bridge, following which both elephants moved towards an open field.
The pair was kept under continuous drone surveillance as they proceeded towards an overflowing nullah. The herd, comprising 13 elephants, was located around 600 metres beyond the water channel.
Following the trail of the herd, the mother and calf eventually reached and safely rejoined the group, officials said.
The entire operation was conducted without any chemical immobilisation or physical intervention. The Forest Department facilitated the rescue by managing the crowd, diverting the canal water, ensuring a safe passage and using drone-based monitoring to track the elephants.
The successful rescue was made possible through coordinated efforts of the Champua Range team and Wildlife Division, with support from local villagers and volunteers, officials said.
