Female elephant calf shows signs of recovery at WTTC
COIMBATORE: The health of a five-month-old female elephant calf that was abandoned in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), has improved considerably after a month of treatment at the Wildlife Transit and Treatment Centre (WTTC) in Pethikuttai, Sirumugai.
COIMBATORE: The health of a five-month-old female elephant calf that was abandoned in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), has improved considerably after a month of treatment at the Wildlife Transit and Treatment Centre (WTTC) in Pethikuttai, Sirumugai.
Article outline
- What happened
- Official response
- The bottom line
Key points
- According to the DFO, shifting the calf to either of the dedicated elephant camps would provide an opportunity for it to socialise with other elephant calves.
- Forest authorities stated efforts had additionally been produced over the past month to reunite the calf with its herd.
- There was no wound when it was brought to the WTTC.
After improvement in its health, Coimbatore Forest Division DFO N Vengatesh Prabhu has written to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra seeking permission to shift the calf to either the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) or the Theppakkadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
According to the DFO, shifting the calf to either of the dedicated elephant camps would provide an opportunity for it to socialise with other elephant calves. It could support improve its mental and physical well-being. The calf is at present receiving special care from a dedicated mahout and kavadi that feed it milk supplements and coconut water every two hours as per the instructions of the WTTC veterinarian.
Forest authorities stated efforts had additionally been produced over the past month to reunite the calf with its herd. Nevertheless, the attempts were unsuccessful. "We wrote to the department heads in Chennai only after the calf's health improved considerably. It is actively playing, sleeping and walking well, " remarked Vengatesh Prabhu.
"There was no wound when it was brought to the WTTC. Our veterinarian, Dr Vijayaraghavan, has been assessing the calf's health, and it is showing signs of recovery. All its health parameters are in good condition, " he continued.
Taken together, the developments around female elephant calf shows signs of recovery at WTTC point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.
