Kaziranga (Assam) [India], July 6 (HBTV): An elephant calf that had separated from its herd in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve was successfully reunited with its mother following swift intervention by forest officials and a rescue team on Saturday, officials said.

According to Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, the forest patrol team was alerted by residents of Borjuri Basti in Bokakhat at around 4 am. Villagers informed officials that the calf had been left behind as the elephant herd was returning to the park via the Veroni corridor.

‘The patrolling party immediately responded to the situation and reached the spot, where another team from the Agoratoli Range had also arrived. Upon arrival, we observed the calf running around a paddy field, moving towards the tea garden area in Sapjuri. The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) rescue team was promptly informed, and they joined our efforts to safely capture the calf,’ Ghosh said.

She added, ‘The calf was successfully rescued and transported to CWRC for a preliminary examination to assess its health status. Fortunately, the examination revealed that the calf was fully healthy, with no signs of injury, disability, or disease. Given the calf’s healthy condition, it was deemed essential to reunite it with its mother and herd as soon as possible. To facilitate this, the calf was taken to the Veroni area, which is a known corridor for elephant movement in and out of the park. Two departmental elephants were deployed to track the movement of the herd.’

The Field Director further said that around 8:30 am, the mother elephant responded to the calf’s calls and emerged from the forest.

‘The reunion was successfully facilitated, and the mother elephant took the calf into her care. The mother, as well as the assumed immediate family from the herd, safely escorted the calf back into the park, marking a successful conclusion to the operation,’ Ghosh said.

(ANI)