A six-month-old elephant calf that was rescued from Alipurduar last month is all set to join the herd of “kunkis” or pet elephants of the state forest department.
On Sunday, the calf was brought out of isolation in the pet elephants’ enclosure in Jaldapara National Park and was taken to Holong, a nearby stream, for a bath.
Sources said on May 27, a female elephant had died due to electrocution at the Madhya Khayerbari area of Madarihat block. After a couple of days, a calf, which is suspected to have the born to the dead female, was found straying around in Dalmore, a nearby area. Foresters got information about its movement and rescued it.
“Since then, it was staying at an isolated place in the ‘pilkhana’ (enclosure) of Jaldapara. It was suffering from dehydration and was fed by the mahouts saline and other medicines. It is in sound health now,” said a forester.
Today, as mahouts released it from isolation, it went on running around the enclosure. Some other pet calves were brought near it but it didn’t mingle with them.
Later in the day, the calf, along with some other elephants, was taken to Holong for a bath. From now on, it will be trained gradually, and soon, it will be sent with other pet elephants in groups to move around in the forest. “The calf is doing well. We are keeping a watch over it,” Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife, north), said.
