Second jumbo calf dies in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh in five days, herd stayed trumpeting for hours

RAIPUR: A young elephant calf died after getting trapped in a marshy patch at Kerajhariya dam near Tarkela village in Chhal range of Raigarh district, marking the second jumbo calf death in the area in just four days and raising concerns over elephant conservation and habitat safety in one of Chhattisgarh’s most conflict-prone wildlife belts.According to forest officials, a herd of 35 elephants has been moving in the Chhal range of Dharamjaigarh forest division. On Sunday night, the herd reached the dam to drink water and bathe when the calf, estimated to be between four and ten months old, got stuck in the slushy portion of the water body.Despite repeated attempts, the calf could not free itself and died in the marsh. The herd remained near the spot for hours and was heard trumpeting loudly through the night, with the sounds reaching nearby villages.The Hathi Mitra Dal and forest staff were alerted, but officials said it was not possible to reach the site at night due to darkness and the presence of the elephant herd. On Monday morning, forest personnel and the Hathi Mitra Dal reached the dam and found the calf’s body stuck in the marsh.After senior officials, including the DFO, SDO and ranger, reached the spot, the carcass was pulled out with the help of an excavator and forest staff and it was buried. This is the second calf death in Chhal range within four days. Earlier, another calf had drowned in Ghoghra dam when a herd of around 20 elephants had entered the water body.The latest death has sparked anger among local residents and wildlife activists, who say repeated elephant calf deaths point to a deeper crisis in Raigarh and Dharamjaigarh forest divisions. In the past one year, an estimated 12 elephant calves have died in the region.A local scribe Naresh Sharma who also serves as president of the 'save forest committee' in Raigarh said that the population of elephants is continuously rising with around 400 pachyderms in forests besides being accompanied by their calves. "There's no initiative taken to save or conserve the elephants nor maintain a stronger and safer habitat for them, that's the reason elephant death has become a frequent incident," he said, adding that shrinking forest resources, expanding human interference and fragmented movement routes have intensified human-elephant conflict, leading to crop damage, attacks and retaliatory risks.Wildlife groups have been demanding urgent development of elephant corridors, mapping of marshy and vulnerable zones, stronger field surveillance and accountability within the forest department.Forest officials said the 35-member herd currently moving in the area includes four males, 25 females and six calves. Chhal ranger Rajesh Chauhan told reporters, elephant movement is being continuously monitored and villagers are being alerted through munadi (hooting)1 in affected villages to prevent any loss of human life.