Assam: Orphaned Elephant Calf Rescued Near Orang, Finds New Life at CWRC Kaziranga
Estimated to be around 18 to 24 months old, the calf was first spotted by villagers on April 29 in the maize fields of Aparia Chapori, Darrang district.
Darrang / Kaziranga- A young male elephant calf, separated from its herd and found in distress near Assam’s Orang Tiger Reserve, has been given a new lease on life at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga.
Estimated to be around 18 to 24 months old, the calf was first spotted by villagers on April 29 in the maize fields of Aparia Chapori, Darrang district. The following day, it was seen again in a dry riverbed, prompting immediate action by forest officials and experienced mahouts from the Orang Tiger Reserve.
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Efforts to reunite the calf with a nearby herd of 17 wild elephants, observed within Orang National Park, were initiated on April 30. Despite multiple attempts, the wild herd avoided contact, and the calf was ultimately transferred to CWRC for specialised care.
CWRC— a collaborative initiative of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Assam Forest Department, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) — responded swiftly, with veterinarian Dr. Mehedi Hassan and a trained animal keeper reaching the site to aid in the rescue.
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At CWRC, the calf was placed in the elephant nursery, joining three other calves of similar age. According to Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, Centre Manager and lead veterinarian, the calf has begun bottle-feeding and is responding well to care. A medical check revealed injuries to both eyes, including a haemorrhage and an ulcerative wound, which are currently being treated.
This brings the total number of orphaned elephant calves under CWRC’s care to 11, all undergoing long-term rehabilitation with the goal of eventual reintegration into the wild.
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“This calf’s journey from isolation and fear to safety and healing stands as a testament to the collaboration between local communities, forest staff, and wildlife professionals,” said Dr. Hassan. “Though reuniting with the wild herd is always our first aim, rehabilitation now offers this young elephant a second chance at life.”
