Treated jumbo calf again loses track of mother in Erode

On Tuesday, the weak jumbo had fainted at Uppupallam due to hunger after starving for several days as it was unable to consume food due to excruciating pain in its mouth. Experts had earlier found the jumbo had decayed tooth and plague in its gums. The pain had forced the animal to refrain from consuming food and subsequently it turned weak. “It couldn’t even stand on its feet. The jumbo was treated with antibiotics, painkillers and multivitamins. It was also fed fruits and green fodder. Experts also gave a gentle massage to its numb limbs and lit a fire nearby on Tuesday night to keep the animal warm,” said veterinarian K Ashokan. The jumbo gradually recovered and regained its strength to stand and walk on its own. 

On Wednesday, the calf retreated into the forest along with its mother, giving a sense of relief to the Forest Department. However, the calf again strayed out of the forest into the same Uppupallam area on Thursday. It was then accompanied by its mother, which a few hours later surprisingly abandoned its calf and retreated into the jungles. Villagers, who had developed a fondness for the calf, fed the animal with banana and plantains. On receiving information, a team of Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and took care of it. The Forest Department believes that the jumbo could have arrived again in search of food and water provided by the personnel. “The mother elephant had gone into the forest and we hope it may return to take its calf along any time. A team has been deputed to maintain a vigil in the area,” said a Forest Department official.