Elephant camp plunges into grief after calf's death

Adieu

Shiva was everybody’s favourite at Anekadu. The playful jumbo calf, orphaned after the death of his mother, had been nursed by the tribals in the ‘haadi’ (hamlet).

When he died on Monday night, after suffering from pneumonia for three days, the tribals’ prayers had gone in vain. Efforts by veterinarians to save his life too had proved futile.

The calf was found at Yadavare in the backwaters of the Harangi reservoir, when his mother had died due to a uterine problem soon after his birth in March last year. He had been housed at the Anekadu elephant camp, near Kushalnagar, ever since.

Shiva was so weak that he could not even stand on all fours when he was brought to the elephant camp. At a time when none gave the calf, deprived of mother’s milk, a chance of survival, the forest department staff and the tribals took great care of Shiva and he became an integral part of their lives for one full year.

“He had become one with my family. He used to play with our children. Shiva would sleep with us in our hut and today, it is as if we have lost a son,” said Chandru and his wife, Hemavathi, who brought up the calf.

The tribal couple had not taken food since the day he took ill. “We took care of him round-the-clock. We had lost our third son last month. Shiva’s passing away has deepened our sorrow,” they said.

Shivappa, the coffee planter who had adopted Shiva, said the calf’s death was unfortunate and that all efforts by the forest personnel and the tribals to save him did not succeed. The veterinarians treating him said since the calf did not get mother’s milk, Shiva had no immunity to diseases and he had become weak. He was frequently affected by a number of infections and diseases.

Autopsy report in 15 days

Autopsy has been performed on the body of the calf to ascertain if there are any other causes for his death. The report will be obtained in 15 to 20 days, said Dr Umashankar, veterinarian with the Rajiv Gandhi National Park.