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Stray waif lands in Vandalur zoo

P. Oppili

Calf had strayed from its herd and was roaming in the wild Calf had strayed from its herd and was roaming in the wild

IN GOOD CARE: The elephant calf that strayed from its herd and rescued by forest department staff is now at the Vandalur zoo. K.P.M. Perrumahl (left), Zoo director, tries to befriend the animal. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

CHENNAI: A female elephant calf that strayed from the herd and roamed around in the forest for over two months has been rescued by State Forest officials.

The five-month-old calf arrived at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, from Andhiyur Forest Range, Erode Forest division, on Monday.

It was only three months old when it strayed away from the herd. Forest officials rescued the baby elephant and took care of it, before deciding on moving the calf to the zoo, which already has another calf, which strayed, a few weeks ago.

On Monday, soon after arriving here, the animal was a little agitated. It did not allow the forest guard, who took care of the animal at Andhiyur, to move away from it. Zoo authorities said: "It followed the forest guard wherever he went."

K.P.M. Perrumahl, Chief Conservator and Director of the zoo, said the animal would be quarantined for about six months. Only then may it be taken to an enclosure for public viewing. The zoo director said the calf's health was fine.

A veterinarian from the zoo went to Andhiyur along with a mahout about a fortnight ago to `befriend' the animal. Now the animal is accustomed to the vet's presence. Even in the absence of the forest officials from Erode, the animal moves around freely with the zoo veterinarian.

Because of its tender age and condition, the calf was transported in a truck driven at slow speed. It took 21 hours for the truck to reach the zoo from Erode, said the authorities.

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