Assam floods: Baby elephant saved from drowning in Kaziranga
Assam floods: Baby elephant saved from drowning in Kaziranga
Abhilash Singh, East Mojo
July 6. 2024
See link
https://www.eastmojo.com/assam/2024/07/06/assam-floods-baby-elephant-saved-from-drowning-in-kaziranga/
for photo.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam witnessed a dramatic
rescue operation as a one-year-old male elephant, separated from its herd,
was saved from drowning in floodwaters. Swift action by local villagers
ensured the stranded calf's survival, leading to its immediate transfer to
the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) for urgent
medical intervention.
The incident occurred on 4th July in the Bogori range of Kaziranga National
Park. Concerned for the young elephant's safety, locals used a rope to pull
the calf out of the water and promptly alerted the Forest Department and
IFAW-WTI's Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS). The calf was then admitted to
the CWRC, where it received immediate medical attention.
Rathin Barman, Joint Director of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI),
commented on the situation: “The elephant calf is receiving necessary care
and is under round-the-clock observation at the Elephant Nursery. The CWRC
team is equipped to provide the best possible care for flood-rescued
animals to give them a second chance of returning to the wild.”
Kaziranga National Park has been severely affected by ongoing floods, which
have displaced wildlife and impacted local communities. The Assam Forest
Department and frontline staff are actively engaged in rescuing and
providing care to displaced or injured animals, aiming to mitigate
human-wildlife conflicts. The CWRC, managed by the Assam Forest Department
in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), plays a crucial role in these
rescue efforts.
In the past five days alone, the CWRC team has attended to 73 wildlife
cases, including otter pups, owls, hog deer, sambar deer, and a
two-year-old female rhino calf stranded in floodwaters from the Kohora
range of Kaziranga National Park.
Dr. Sonali Ghosh, IFS, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, stated,
“The calf was in a critical condition and required immediate intervention.
The villagers, Forest police, and veterinary teams were able to ensure its
safe rescue and transfer to CWRC for further care.”