Tragic Loss: 18-Month-Old Elephant Calf Dies After Injuries in Keonjhar

Elephant Calf's Untimely Demise

In Keonjhar, an 18-month-old elephant calf, which had been receiving treatment in the Chamakpur area of Joda since its rescue on April 7, sadly passed away at approximately 3:30 AM on Friday. Initial assessments suggested that the calf suffered from injuries likely caused by an accidental fall and aggression from another male elephant, leading to a bone fracture and subsequent septicaemia. Divisional Forest Officer Dhanraj HD stated, “This is a case of chronic infection.” He explained that the calf's tarsal joints were compromised, and its bones were fractured due to the fall.

The calf was first spotted by field staff on April 7, limping and moving slowly in the Chamakpur area. Due to its presence in a herd, the staff could only observe it from a distance using a drone. By April 10, the calf was seen moving slowly in the morning but was later found lying down around 11 AM, unable to rise due to weakness. The mother elephant and the herd watched over it from afar, monitoring its condition.

Upon examination by the wildlife treatment team, swelling was noted in both hind legs, indicating potential bone injuries. The team extracted a significant amount of pus from the swollen areas. The DFO noted a depression mark near the left side of the tail and a skin growth on the left side of the neck that resembled a tusk injury, possibly indicating aggression from another male elephant. Suspecting septicaemia, the team administered ceftriaxone after consulting with experts from the Centre for Wildlife Health in Bhubaneswar and the Wildlife Institute of India. Coordination was also established with the Joint Task Force of the PCCF Wildlife office during the treatment process. Following a post-mortem examination, the calf's body was buried on Friday.