Baby elephant found abandoned in Kerala forests

A team of veterinary doctors will reach the forest soon to examine the calf.Forest officials said a temporary shelter has been built for the calf in Krishnavanam forest.If the baby elephant is found healthy, efforts will be made to help him join the herd.If the herd again shows reluctance to accept the calf, then the forest department will provide shelter for it, officials said.

A baby elephant has been found abandoned by a herd of jumbos comprising its mother in Kerala's Attappadi forest range, officials said here on Friday.

The-one-year-old calf was found abandoned in the Krishnavanam area under Puthuru forest station on Thursday.

The male calf was then sent back to the forest to join the herd camping in the neighbourhood, but he was again found abandoned by them this morning, Agali forest range officer C Sumesh, who is temporarily holding charge of Attappadi range, told PTI.

Officials said they are making all efforts to help the calf join the herd, which is still roaming in the Krishnavanam forest.

''It appears that the herd has rejected the baby elephant. We are very curious to know the reasons for the attitude of the elephant herd towards the calf,'' a forest official said.

He cited instances of herds abandoning sick calves if they felt they wouldn't survive in forests. A team of veterinary doctors will reach the forest soon to examine the calf.

Forest officials said a temporary shelter has been built for the calf in Krishnavanam forest.

If the baby elephant is found healthy, efforts will be made to help him join the herd.

If the herd again shows reluctance to accept the calf, then the forest department will provide shelter for it, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)