Jumbo calf searching for water falls into tank, saved

The barely one-month-old calf, which was part of a five-member herd, slipped into the 10-ft-deep tank at Chinna Thadagam. 

“The elephant herd strayed out of the forest around 3.45 am in search of water. As the jumbos moved towards the tank expecting water, the baby elephant fell into it,” said a Forest Department official. 

Other adult elephants tried unsuccessfully to lift the baby calf and kept trumpeting in a restless manner. A temple staffer noticed the elephants circling around the tank and informed the Forest Department. The Forest staff immediately rushed to the spot and drove away the herd to the begin rescue operation. 

“Barring the mother elephant, others moved away. It also charged the Forest Department staff and prevented them from going near the tank to rescue the calf. After a long struggle, the mother jumbo moved a little distance away, but maintained a watch on the rescue operations,” said an official. 

Using an earthmover, a portion of the tank was removed and the calf was lifted out. The elephant which was brought out, kept returning towards the tank instead of joining its mother in a playful mood. It was later reunited with its mother jumbo, which then took its calf into the forest. 

Meanwhile, villagers of Periathadagam urged the Forest Department to treat a wild elephant wandering near their village with a severe wound in its mouth. 

The villagers claimed that the jumbo was starving and had become extremely frail. They urged the Forest Department to depute veterinarians to treat the ailing jumbo.