Bhapur: Forest officials Monday morning rescued an elephant calf that had fallen into an isolated well while searching for food in Paturia forest of Kalikaprasad village under Bhapur forest range in Dhenkanal district.
Locals spotted the jumbo struggling to get out of the well after hearing it trumpeting in the morning and alerted the forest officials.
Ghatipiri forester Tarang Biswal, Bhapur forester Punya Bikash Bhoi, Hindol ranger Madhusudan Patra and other forest officials reached the village and began the rescue operation with the help of villagers. It was a hard time for the calf as it struggled even to breathe inside the narrow well.
According to forest officials, the calf had strayed into the forest near the village late Sunday night along with its herd in search of food. While roaming around, it fell inside the well and was left behind by the herd.
After two-three hours of digging, the elephant calf was helped out of the well amid cheer from the rescuers. Forest officials checked the physical condition of the animal to see if it sustained any injury during the fall.
After preliminary treatment, it was released into the forest so that it could join its herd. A forest official stated that they were keeping a close watch on the animal’s movement.
There is a large herd of wild elephants in a forest near the village. They often raid local farms, eat away the crops and damage plantations. Many farmers and forest officials have been trying to keep the wild herd away from the village, locals noted.
PNN
