Kerala - Kochi   

Baby elephant at Kodanadu

KOCHI: Away from media attention, the baby elephant rescued from a 20-foot-deep well at Vettamppara, near Kothamangalam, on Wednesday joined the growing family of elephants at the celebrated Kodanadu wildlife rescue centre on Thursday.

It was a sedate welcome for the calf, rescued from the well at Aynichal village and helped into a mini lorry to be driven to the kraal at Kodanadu. Nearly 1,500 people had gathered to witness the efforts to haul the calf up from the well through the better part of Wednesday and cheered its rescuers.

The animal was tired and under sedation when it came in at 4.30 p.m. to join the seven-member elephant family. Earlier in the day, she had an acquaintance of her future mates, Sunitha and Neelakandan, elephants from Kodanadu that helped in the rescue efforts. The calf has recovered fast and is eating and drinking without difficulty, said N. Sudheer, Divisional Forest Officer, Malayattoor, on Wednesday.

He said the newcomer had adjusted itself to the new surroundings, was nearly tame by now and people had no problem approaching it.

The baby elephant had no fractures, but had sustained cuts and abrasions on its forehead and sides, as it tried hard to escape from the well since the early hours of Monday.

Except Sunitha and Neelakandan, elephants at the rescue centre are calves, with ages ranging from one to five and all rescued in circumstances similar to the latest operation, Mr. Sudheer said.

For the rescue centre, which saw 1.6-lakh visitors till October-end this year, the new baby is a welcome addition.

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