Picture and text by Anirban Choudhury

Pet elephant Champakali, who had played the role of a foster mother to at least 10 rescued calves in the past three years, was worshipped on Sunday to mark Mother’s Day.

The 52-year-old kunki (pet elephant) was given a bath, cleaned up and worshipped near Holong Pilkhana in Jaldapara. The elephant and some of the calves she had taken care of were given bananas and grass to eat.

Rajendra Jakhar, the divisional forest officer, wildlife III, said: “Champakali has accepted a number of rescued calves. I thought of acknowledging the elephant’s role as a mother on this day.”