Siliguri, June 30: An elephant calf, which had been reunited with its herd by foresters after it got injured and fell behind, was again found alone at Bengdubi near Bagdogra today. It has been brought to Gourmara National Park.

The female calf was first spotted in a cornfield at Tarabari, close to Trihana Tea Estate in Bagdogra, by forest guards on June 26. It was part of a herd that had been driven away from India-Nepal border into Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.

The calf was rescued from villagers, who were pelting it with stones, treated and released among the elephants by the guards.

The forest officers were keeping their fingers crossed as there was a possibility of the calf, which had come in contact with humans, being rejected by the herd.

Their fears came true when the calf was found isolated in a field near an army ammunition depot today.

As the elephants reached Bamanpokhri en route to Mahananda sanctuary, the foresters today combed the entire stretch from the India-Nepal border to the Balasone to see if any elephant had strayed from the herd. That was when the guards spotted the straggler.

Asked why the pachyderm had been left behind even after if had been left with the herd, Sumita Ghatak, the divisional forest officer (wildlife-1), said: “A herd never takes in a frail elephant. Any pachyderm which cannot keep pace with the others in the group is isolated. The calf in this case was limping, so that is why it might have been isolated.”

The “hula party” (expert elephant chasers) from Bankura is likely to be pressed into service today or tomorrow to steer the herd towards Mahananda. The elephants are in Bamanpokhri forest now, close to the sanctuary.