Keonjhar: Safety of elephant calves has emerged as a major concern for both forest authorities and elephant herds due to rise in frequency of human-elephant interactions in Keonjhar district.While the forest department prioritises protection of calves, gathering of large crowds often makes elephants more protective and aggressive. According to officials, 47 elephant calves are currently part of different herds in the Keonjhar forest division, with the highest concentration in the Ghatgaon range.Forest officials said human contact can prove detrimental to elephant calves. Since elephants can detect human scent, calves that come into close contact with people may be rejected by their mothers and herds. Several such instances have been reported in the past, prompting authorities to shift some calves to Nandankanan Zoological Park for rehabilitation.One such case involved a calf that came in contact with humans while straying towards a habitation on Jan 25 this year. Repeated attempts by the forest department to reunite it with the mother and herd proved futile. For the first time, the forest department has made arrangements to rear an elephant calf at Padmapur Mega Nursery under the Sadar range. Named Saraswati, the calf weighed around 110 kg when rescued, now weighs 213 kg.Dedicated facilities have been created at the nursery for the calf’s care and training. Officials said Saraswati is being reared as per prescribed protocol and spends time walking and playing within the nursery premises under the supervision of caretakers.Around Rs 5,000 is spent daily on its food, treatment and upkeep. Four staff members have been assigned exclusively for its care, including feeding, monitoring and basic training. Forest authorities are also building specialised enclosures on lines of facilities in Dhenkanal district. Officials, however, acknowledge the challenges involved in raising a wild elephant in captivity. As Saraswati grows, it will require companionship and services of a trained mahout for proper management.Divisional forest officer (DFO), Keonjhar, Dhanraj H D, said, “The wild animal is being cared for as per protocol. If required, it can be shifted to Nandankanan. At present, there is no issue with keeping it here.”
