Forest dept rescues lost elephant calf in Cox’s Bazar

Forest Department of Cox's Bazar rescued an elephant calf -- believed to have been lost from the herd -- from Shapalur area of Teknaf upazila, and handed her over to the local safari park yesterday.

The female calf -- weighing 121 kg and aged around three months -- was found in Huiyakkong range of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division.

Humayun Kabir, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, told The Daily Star, "We came to know about the calf, which we assume, got lost from a herd of elephants."

The calf was standing for long near Monkhali canal, he said, adding that the calf might have fallen from the hill and it could not climb further due to steepness.

"We rescued her at 2:00pm on Wednesday, fed it milk and bananas.  As there are no elephant herds nearby, we handed her over to Dulahazari Safari Park at Chakaria for better care," he said.

"Our beat officer, along with other staff, were asked to remain watchful if any mother elephant is looking for her calf. We will release the calf once we come across her mother," he added.

Abu Naser Md Yeasin Neyaz, divisional forest officer of Chattogram Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division, also the supervisor of Safari Park, told The Daily Star that they received the calf yesterday and had her checked by a veterinary surgeon.

"We kept the calf in quarantine, and she is in good health. She is drinking milk and eating bananas. We will release her in the area once the mother is found," he said.