Sick elephant calf dies while undergoing treatment in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Bansapal: A jumbo calf that was sick since yesterday and was undergoing treatment died today in a forest near Bhejidihi village of Anjar under Bhuyan-Juanga-Pidha range and Bansapal block in Keonjhar district. A team of doctors from the Wildlife Division led by Dr. Brajaraj Yadav along with a community veterinary doctor from Bansapal locality were treating the male pachyderm.

According to a senior forest official, the elephant calf was among the other 11 members of a herd that was roaming near Bhejidihi under Nayakote Beat limits yesterday night. Accidentally, the calf fell into a large pit in the forest and got injured. The remaining members of the herd are still roaming in nearby areas.

The age of the elephant calf would be around two years. It was under the observation of ACF Ashok Kumar Das, ranger Nayankanta Sahu, forester Jyotirmayee Patnaik, including another official Rajendra Patra.

“We have collected the pathological samples and sent those for testing. The actual cause behind the calf’s death can be known only after a post-mortem report comes in, a doctor in the team said.