A CCTV video from a plantation near Mananthavady captured the incident, as forest officials recovered the calf after moving the surrounding elephant herd into the forest
A baby elephant died after falling from a hill at Muthumari near Kattikkulam in Kerala’s Wayanad district. Forest officials reached the site on Sunday but recovered the calf’s body on Monday after moving the herd away.
Wayanad: A baby elephant died after falling from a hill at a forest-fringe plantation in Muthumari, near Kattikkulam in the Mananthavady area of Kerala’s Wayanad district. The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, and CCTV footage showing the calf’s fall and its mother’s attempts to reach it circulated on social media on Monday.
The footage shows the calf falling down a hill and crying out in pain. Its mother rushed towards it, apparently attempting to help, while loud elephant calls could be heard in the recording. However, the calf did not survive.
Wayanad Baby Elephant Death Prompts Forest Department Response
The Rapid Action Team (RAT) of the North Wayanad Forest Division reached the location on Sunday after receiving information about the incident.
Forest officials were initially unable to approach the calf because a herd of elephants had gathered around it. The team returned on Monday morning with personnel from the Begur Forest Division.
The joint team managed to move the herd back into the forest, allowing officials to approach and examine the calf. The examination confirmed that the animal had died.
Forest Officials Move Elephant Calf’s Body Into Forest
Following the examination, forest department personnel took the calf’s body deeper into the forest and performed the last rites, according to the report.
The incident occurred in a plantation located near the forest boundary, where the presence of the elephant herd initially prevented officials from reaching the animal.
The CCTV recording subsequently attracted attention on social media, documenting the mother elephant’s response after the calf fell.
