Elephant calf finds refuge at Tata Zoo
In the Dalma forest, adjacent to forest range and Subarnarekha River Jamshedpur, a herd of 20 elephants were roaming in Berdih village of Chandil block. This herd of elephants goes to Bengal every year in the month of January and returns to Jharkhand by the end of August. There was a two year old baby in a herd of 20 elephant who got seriously injured due felling in in a well. The Forest department first took this elephant out of the well tried to unite it but the herd of elephant rejected the baby elephant and decided to leave it and moved ahead. The forest department lastly decided to hand over the injured elephant to Tata Zoo in order to have recovery from injuries.
When Tata zoo veterinary team saw the baby elephants for the first time. The calf wounds were having maggots at multiple sites such as inguinal area, rump and a perforated wound on forehead acting as fistula formation in the nasal passage. The animal was found exhausted due to maggots manifestation, and was found prefer to lay/stay in water logged area of river or paddy field. The whole surrounding was having rotten flesh smell due to maggot and sepsis of wound. Later, the Tata zoo team tries to trap the animal by using rope on legs, restrained small  area, and then finally the elephant baby was took from deep forest to loading site. The calf was further treated with external application of Himax Lotion, Antihistaminic Injection and Antibiotic Injection at the affected site.
Finally, the rescue operation of the baby elephant started after proper restraining and safe containing of the animal in the transport vehicle. The baby elephant was offered fruits and vegetables during the entire journey from Dalma forest to Tata zoo, which helped a lot to reduce the stress of the calf and getting familiarized with the keepers. After bringing the baby elephant to the zoo, the close examination of the injuries was done and subsequent treatment was done. For several months, the injuries of the calf were regularly examined and the regular treatment and care of each wound was done on regular basis. Lastly, the animal was fully recovered from the injuries.
Forest Department – Dalma Ranger Sushil Oraon said that every year the elephant of Dalma (Jharkhand State) goes to Bengal. And while returning, they face a lot of trouble, because the whole herd of elephant causes a lot of damage to the crops comes in their way. To protect the crops, it is said people use a sharp iron spear for the elephant, sets fire on them and teases the elephant which sometimes caused death of animal. Efforts were made to save the baby elephant by giving him anti-biotic medication. The first priority was to save this 2-year-old baby and finally it was saved him and the animal at last recovered totally and handed over back to the Forest Department for the subsequent rehabilitation.
