(IN): Mother, baby elephant rescued

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*Mother, baby elephant rescued*

 

Statesman News Service

BERHAMPUR, July 8: It was a rescue operation which lasted for over four

hours. Forest, fire brigade personnel and villagers all joined hands to

successfully 'fish' out two elephants – a female and its calf, from a deep

well at Huma today.

The two elephants had strayed from the herd and accidentally fallen into the

irrigation well since last night. Unable to get out of the well, they

started trumpeting causing fear and panic amongst villagers.

Everybody was tense right through the night. The villagers dare not get

close to the water body and yet they wanted to rescue the elephants.

Villagers said a elephant herd had entered the agricultural fields and

nearby in search of harvested paddy.

It was at this time that the mother and child duo fell into the well while

the herd moved away to the nearby forests during the wee hours of this

morning.

Receiving information about incident forest officials rushed to the spot.

The local revenue officials and DFO Mr AK Jena joined others in trying to

devise ways of lifting the two elephants. But all this started only after

the owner of the well was provided Rs 4000 towards damages.

The four hour long rescue operation began with the officers first trying to

fill the well with water from fire tenders which had been requisitioned to

the spot. It was expected that the two elephants will be able to swim out to

safety if the well was filled to its brink.

Then the sides of the well were damaged to create a slope. All this was done

but a tricky situation developed as the calf got out and then found its

mother still inside, it re-entered the well.

After sustained efforts, the mother was first moved out of the well and the

calf followed. Both fled towards the nearby forests as soon as they attained

'freedom'.

Forest officials said the two were allowed to escape to the forests. They

will find the herd to which they belong, we are however keeping track of

their movement, added the officials.

 

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