Rescue teams ensure safe reunion of elephant calf with mother

PRASHANT ACHARYA

SILIGURI, : In a successful wildlife rescue operation, a recently born elephant calf that fell into a septic tank inside the 16 FAD Army area was safely rescued and reunited with its mother after an intensive seven-and-a-half-hour operation involving Army personnel, Forest Department officials and veterinary support.

The incident occurred at around 4 AM when a mother elephant and her young calf fell into a septic tank within the Army premises. After being informed by Army personnel, the Forest Department promptly dispatched a team to the spot. Forest staff broke open the septic tank to rescue the trapped calf, while the mother elephant moved into the nearby forest.

Following the rescue, personnel from the Bagdogra Forest Range and Elephant Squad Range kept the calf under close observation to ensure its safety and monitor its condition. A veterinary officer provided oral rehydration solution (ORS) and topical medication as part of the calf's immediate care.

However, rescuing the calf was only the first step. The major challenge was to locate the mother and ensure that the newborn was safely reunited with her in the forest.

Under the leadership of the Assistant Divisional Forest Officer (ADFO), Bagdogra, two teams comprising Range Officers and other forest personnel launched an extensive search operation in the core forest area. During the search, the teams located two elephant herds and carefully guided the calf towards them in an effort to facilitate its reunion with the mother.

The coordinated efforts eventually yielded the desired result, as the mother elephant accepted her calf, completing the reunion successfully at around 1:30 PM.

The entire operation lasted approximately seven and a half hours, highlighting the dedication, coordination and commitment of the Army personnel, Forest Department teams and veterinary staff involved in the rescue.

The successful reunion marks a positive outcome for wildlife conservation efforts in the Bagdogra region, where the protection of elephants and the safe management of human-wildlife interactions remain important priorities.

The incident also underlines the importance of securing septic tanks and other hazardous structures in areas frequented by wildlife to prevent similar accidents in the future.