The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Stray elephant calf brought to Vandalur zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Stray elephant calf brought to Vandalur zoo

P. Oppili

45-day-old rejected by its herd rescued in Sathyamangalam

IN SAFE HANDS : The 45-day-old elephant calf rescued by forest department officials being escorted to the veterinary hospital by staff at Vandalur zoo on Friday. — PHOTO: A. MURALITHRAN

CHENNAI: A 45-day-old elephant calf rejected by its herd and later rescued by forest department officials in Sathyamangalam has a new home.

It was brought on Friday to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur, on Friday.

The zoo veterinarians said that after the calf was abandoned by its mother and the herd, it strayed and was rescued from the Andhiyur range. They tried to reunite the calf with its mother or herd, but did not succeed.

A senior Forest officer said they then left the calf inside the forest. But, even after a day, it was found roaming alone. They picked up the calf, and kept it in their custody for a couple of days, before deciding to send it to Vandalur, where it would get better care.

The animal was transported in a mini-lorry from Andhiyur to the zoo and is now housed in a room in the veterinary hospital.

The vets said the health of the calf could be assessed only after a week's time. It had injuries on its left hind limb and lacerations on the back. Initially, they will feed the calf Lactogen I mixed in milk, besides a diet designed prepared by vets.

The Vandalur zoo already has another slightly older calf, which too was abandoned by its herd in the same Sathyamangalam area, about four months ago. That elephant too is convalescing at the veterinary hospital, the officials said.

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