Elephant calf hit by train, to be monitored for 24 hours after primary treatment
Monday, 19 December 2022 | PNS | LALKUAN
An elephant calf was injured after being reportedly hit by a train on the Lalkuan-Kathgodam-Rampur railway block on Sunday. It was hit by the Sampark Kranti Express in the morning after which the Forest department personnel sprung into action. The locomotive pilot has reportedly refuted reports of the calf being hit by the train. Shortly after the mishap, the mother of the calf managed to coax it away from the railway track. The Forest department personnel had to struggle initially in order to check the calf and treat it as the mother and the elephant herd remained nearby. They were able to treat it later in the day and plan to monitor it during the night.
According to local sources, the elephant calf estimated to be about two to three years old was walking along the railway track near a jungle when the mishap occurred. On receiving information, the Terai Central divisional forest officer Sandeep Kumar reached the site and also used a drone to assess the situation.
Initially, the department personnel along with the veterinarians were unable to approach the calf due to the presence of its mother and the elephant herd nearby. Later, the department team finally managed to approach the calf and in the effort which lasted about three hours, the veterinarians administered antibiotics and painkillers to the injured calf.
The DFO said that the department took swift action on being informed about the mishap and that the personnel were monitoring the calf using a drone. Using crackers, the department personnel were able to coax the elephant herd into the jungle to enable the veterinarians to check and treat the injured calf. The herd returned once to the calf due to which the personnel had to leave the site temporarily. A total of 60 personnel were involved in the efforts. Kumar informed that for now the calf is being monitored using cameras and will be kept under observation for 24 hours.
Prima facie it doesn’t seem as if the calf has suffered a fracture but it is facing difficulty in standing up due to the injury on its hind portion. It is possible that the calf may be experiencing some problem with its spinal column. The mother of the calf and the elephant herd were also nearby till the time of this report being filed. The department personnel are also keeping a watch.
