Elephant calf at camp in Kerala elates visitors

The two-and-half-month-old elephant calf strayed away from its herd in Malappuram district in Kerala before forest officials moved it to a camp.

Pathanamthitta:People in Konni are full of awe andexcitement as they visit a two-and-a-half-month-old elephant calf at nearby camp. It walks and runs around in the camp elating visitors.

The elephant calf strayed away from its herd and ventured onto a playground at Paruthippadam, Vazhikkadavu in Malappuram district of Kerala, running towards children who were playing on the ground. Forest officers' attempt to help the elephant calf reunite with its mother was in vain and finally, they decided to take it to the elephant camp.

Affectionately, people of Vazhikkadavu call the elephant Manikandan. Currently, it is being fed lactogen as special care and attention is required at this stage, it has been accommodated in a special cage.

Veterinary Doctor Arun Sathyan said the forest officers and doctors at the camp would take care of the calf well. In the family of five elephants at Konni, Manikandan is a newbie, he said.

Earlier, people in Konni used to cajole another elephant calf, Pinju. However, it died after falling ill.