Elephant calf found dead in Deepor beel area

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Elephant calf found dead in Deepor beel area

By A Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 12 – An elephant calf was found dead in the Deepor

beel area yesterday. The four-month-old calf had serious injury

marks on its head, and according to forest officials, the calf must

have been trampled accidentally when it came in the middle of a

couple of mating elephants.

 

" The head of the baby elephant was totally crushed, and we suspect

that it must have come between two mating elephants, " Surajit Duta,

DFO, Guwahati Wildlife Division, said, adding that the calf had

probably died on Sunday though it was discovered only yesterday.

 

The tragedy also brought to the fore the sentimentality and the deep

bond that exist among elephants. Dutta said that while the calf died

in area of water and mud, the body was pushed to a highland 60-70

metres away by other members of the herd.

 

" There was enough indication that the baby elephant's carcass was

pushed to the drier highland by the herd. There were marks of

pushing and puling all over the stretch. Besides, the carcass also

bore marks of being pushed by tusks, " Dutta said, adding that such

show of affection among elephants was nothing uncommon as family

ties were known to be very strong among the pachyderms.

 

Dutta said that a herd of 18-20 elephants had been frequenting the

area for the past few days. " We reached the area after getting

information from local people. It was difficult to get there as the

area was muddy and plying of boats was impossible, " he said.

 

It may be mentioned that last year also, a calf died in the area.