Vets at Sathyamangalam treat ailing 40-year-old female elephant, look after its calf

ERODE Veterinarians treat sick elephant in forest, separating calf for treatment, aiming to reunite once mother recovers.

A team of veterinarians are treating a 40-year-sick female elephant, found in a forest at the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) near the Bannari – Bhavanisagar road in Erode on Sunday (March 3, 2023) night.

Forest Department staff said the mother, with its two-month-old calf, arrived near the Bannari Amman temple in the forest and fell unconscious. On hearing its calf crying out, local residents went to the spot and, on finding the elephant, alerted the Sathyamangalam Forest Range staff. 

A team led by S. Sadasivam, wildlife veterinarian of the STR, began treatment. Since the calf was restless near the mother and disturbing the treatment, the staff took the calf away. A 5 ft deep pit was dug, and the calf was placed in it while the staff continued to take care of it. The calf was provided with milk and water.

K. Rajkumar, Conservator of Forests and Field Director, STR, told The Hindu that efforts are on to stabilise the mother elephant while the calf is also being taken care of by the staff. “Once the mother elephant recovers, the calf will be reunited with it,” he added.