A three-month-old male elephant calf, who was recently relocated to Theppakadu camp in Coimbatore for care, died on Friday night due to intestinal ulcers as revealed by a postmortem.
Coimbatore: A tragic incident occurred at the Theppakadu elephant camp as a three-month-old male elephant calf succumbed to health complications, dying on Friday night. The young calf, initially discovered alongside its sick, elderly mother near Marudhamalai in early May, faced continuous health issues despite efforts to provide care.
After spotting the calf with its 40-year-old ailing mother at the foothills of Marudhamalai on May 30, foresters noticed the calf's health deteriorate. The mother elephant, treated by foresters but unable to stand, returned to the wild with the calf's sibling, while the young calf was left behind and later abandoned by the herd. Despite numerous attempts by forestry officials to reunite the calf with its mother and other herds, all efforts failed.
The forlorn calf was eventually taken to Theppakadu camp on June 9, where it was cared for by an experienced mahout in a separate kraal. Initially showing signs of improvement, the calf's condition worsened drastically on Friday. Treated by a forest veterinarian attached to the MTR, the calf ultimately failed to respond to the treatments. At around 8:45 pm, it passed away.
"During the postmortem examination, we discovered that the calf's intestines were infested with ulcers," a forest officer stated. They have collected samples of the vital organs for laboratory tests to ascertain the exact cause of death. The results are awaited to confirm the underlying causes of the calf's health issues.
After spotting the calf with its 40-year-old ailing mother at the foothills of Marudhamalai on May 30, foresters noticed the calf's health deteriorate. The mother elephant, treated by foresters but unable to stand, returned to the wild with the calf's sibling, while the young calf was left behind and later abandoned by the herd. Despite numerous attempts by forestry officials to reunite the calf with its mother and other herds, all efforts failed.
The forlorn calf was eventually taken to Theppakadu camp on June 9, where it was cared for by an experienced mahout in a separate kraal. Initially showing signs of improvement, the calf's condition worsened drastically on Friday. Treated by a forest veterinarian attached to the MTR, the calf ultimately failed to respond to the treatments. At around 8:45 pm, it passed away.
"During the postmortem examination, we discovered that the calf's intestines were infested with ulcers," a forest officer stated. They have collected samples of the vital organs for laboratory tests to ascertain the exact cause of death. The results are awaited to confirm the underlying causes of the calf's health issues.