Bhanjanagar: A one-year-old elephant calf fell into a pit near Daha reservoir in a forest on Ganjam-Kandhamal border when the animal along with a herd of 12 elephants had gone to drink water in the reservoir.
The calf got trapped in the pit and could not come out. The herd had tried throughout the night to rescue the calf, but in vain. Later, the herd strayed into Bapangi forest leaving behind the calf in the pit.
Meanwhile, locals spotted it in the pit and alerted the forest officials. Bhanjanagar Mujagarh Range officials led by Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Sudarshan Badi, reached the village and managed to rescue the calf in the evening.
As the calf got separated from the herd, it seemed worried and looked around for its mother. The calf then crossed the reservoir and strayed into Sahajkhal forest. Forest officials feared for its life and kept a close watch.
Earlier, a calf had got separated from its herd after it fell into a pit. Although forest officials rescued the calf and released it in the forest, the herd did not get along with it. Then, the calf became an orphan and finally died of starvation.
Locals feared the saved calf might also face the same fate. So, they demanded the calf be rescued and sent to Nandankanan. When contacted, ACF Badi said they were keeping a close watch on the calf. If the herd doesn’t accept the young elephant, the calf will be rescued and sent to Nandankanan, he said. PNN
