The Hindu : Elephant struggling to save new-born disabled calf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Elephant struggling to save new-born disabled calf

By D. Radhakrishnan

A protective elephant keeping vigil on its physically-challenged calf (encircled) at Nadugani near Gudalur on Sunday.

Udhagamandalam Sept. 7. For the last couple of days the Gudalur Forest Division's Gene Pool Garden at Nadugani has been witnessing poignant scenes with a wild elephant having given birth to a physically-challenged calf.

A member of a herd, which strayed into the garden about a week ago, the elephant delivered the calf four days ago.

The mother is struggling to put the calf on its feet.

The District Forest Officer, Gudalur Division, Sewa Singh, told The Hindu said both the hind legs of the calf were paralysed.

Unable to abandon its baby, the mother was staying close to it and not allowing anybody to approach it.

Till Saturday night it was suckling the calf, and was trying to push it into the forest, but the hostile terrain was making things difficult for them.

A number of forest staff members were maintaining a round-the-clock vigil.

Mr. Singh said the health of the mother was in good condition and was feeding from a nearby bamboo grove.

As news spread, people from Nadugani and surrounding areas thronged the place.

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