Ailing jumbo gives birth to calf in Chadivayal camp

COIMBATORE: A 40-year-old female wild elephant that was under treatment in the Chadivayal elephant camp in Coimbatore for constipation gave birth to a healthy male calf on Monday morning.
Forest officials said the elephant was recovering and had started consuming fodder. "We will monitor the health of the elephant and calf for 48 hours. Based on how they are doing, we will take a decision," said Dr Manoharan, a forest department veterinary doctor.
The elephant began feeding the calf.It has not been allowing anyone to go near the young one including a pet dog at the camp.
Forest officials had earlier thought that the elephant had been suffering from constipation. However, they had not ruled out pregnancy. "We had doubts and so we gave it enough saline, vitamin tablets, protein supplements and other millets and green fodder," said Dr Manoharan.
Environmentalists said it was surprising that the veterinarians did not identify that the animal was pregnant. The calf could have come to some harm, if adequate measures were not taken, they said. Mohammed Saleem Of Environmental Conservation Group said, "I am glad that both the female elephant and the calf are safe and healthy. The fact that the female elephant has not only survived but has also given birth is very commendable.".
However, he said the elephant should not be kept at the camp for longer. "It should be released into the wild as soon as possible," he said.
R Sasikala, a conservationist and tribal activist, said that it was difficult to identify that the elephant was pregnant. "The officials set out to save one life but have saved two. It is a miracle and we are glad that it was not injured in anyway when it was translocated," she said.
Senior forest officials who checked on the elephant said that on Monday morning the elephant was unable to stand on its own. "We used kumki elephants to get it up on its feet again. Since the animal is aged, we need to ensure that it can fend for itself and take care of the calf. We will monitor it on Tuesday morning. If the elephant gets up on its own, we will release it," said a senior forest officer.