Wild elephant calf Arya thrives after getting personal attention at Dubare camp

Madikeri: Arya, a wild elephant calf, is now 10 months old and thriving at the Dubare camp after being rescued from the Chiklihole reservoir area. Separated from its mother nearly 10 months ago, Arya was discovered by locals, who alerted forest officials. Despite efforts to reunite the calf with its mother by monitoring the area for two days, the attempt was unsuccessful.Initially, Arya was taken to Dubare elephant camp, where it was fed cow's milk, though it showed little improvement and was weak from the separation. With expertise gained from his training at a wild elephant camp in Coimbatore, deputy range forest officer Ranjan took charge of the calf's care. Recognising that cow's milk lacked the necessary nutrients, he arranged for goat milk to be sourced from Malavalli in Mandya district at a cost of Rs 250 per litre.For the first six months, Arya struggled to adjust, often rejecting the milk or suffering from diarrhoea. Ranjan then began heating the goat milk before feeding it, which helped the calf tolerate it better. Over the past two months, Arya's diet has expanded to include porridge and, during escorted visits to the forest, it has even begun nibbling on grass and leaves.Ranjan himself bathed the calf daily in hot water and ensured its nutritional needs were met with a mix of goat and cow milk. Shiva, a tribal from Dubare, was appointed to assist with the calf's daily routine. Arya, kept apart from tourists for safety reasons, now enjoys daily trips into the forest, where it walks and forages alongside a larger elephant. Though young wild elephants separated from their mothers rarely survive, Arya's successful recovery marks a rare victory. Of the 27 wild elephants at Dubare camp, Arya holds the distinction of being the youngest. Camp officer Ranjan expressed pride in the calf's recovery, calling it an honour to welcome Arya into the camp.

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