The 18-months-old elephant calf that sustained injuries after suffering a shock at a farmland in Thasampalayam, Mettupalayam died today in Mettupalayam forest office.
Sources say, the calf sustained cuts on its trunk after suffering a shock from electrocution. The cuts were sutured and was under medical observation at the Mettupalayam, forest office.This morning, while the calf tried to escape from the forest office, the forest officials tranquilized the calf to stop it from escaping. Within a short while after tranquilizing, the calf's condition had gone critical and died.
The unexpected death of the calf has shocked the forest officials and the environmentalists as three elephants have lost their lives due to the irresponsible act of the farmland owner. However, a case has been registered against the farm owner for illegal fencing, under the wildlife protection act 1972.
On 16th January (on Monday night ), a herd of four elephants (a female, two calves and a male elephant) entered the coconut farm of Palanisamy at Thasampalayam Village. To protect his crops from the elephant herd that often raids his farm, Palanisamy has installed electric fence around his farmland. The female elephant and its 6-year-old calf touched the fence and got electrocuted. The other calf (18 months old) and the male elephant escaped from the spot. However, the calf sustained injuries on it's trunk. The male elephant abandoned the calf and left to the forest.
Upon receiving information, the forest officials rushed to the spot and rescued the calf after a long struggle. A post-mortem was conducted on the spot after which the two deceased elephants were buried at the same spot.