Villagers rescue elephant calf

Villagers of Kolavige rescued an elephant calf aged about two years from watering hole near Gende Kere, here on Monday.

The calf, which strayed from its herd while drinking water, was found famished near Kere.

The villagers who were on their way to their fields, rescued the calf after ensuring no pachyderms were around the area.

While they brought the calf and tethered it to a place close to Anganwadi and fed it some jaggery and greens, they also informed the forest department officials to take decision regarding moving it to forest.

Officials who told the villagers that they would arrive in a while, took way too long to reach the village and this enraged the villagers. Dodda Hejjur Grama Panchayat president Devaraju and members D R Mahesh said the same calf was spotted near Gende Kere two weeks ago.

 “The locals had touched it then and the elephants have refused to accept it back into their group again,” they added. Anticipating that the calf could have been separated from its herd ever since and has gone without food. The calf which has gone terribly weak can survive only if it is given good treatment.  

The Veeranahosalli forest officials RFO Kiran Kumar and team who arrived later, transported the calf to Aanechowkuru elephant camp in Mattigodu region.