The calf at the Malangi beat in Jaldapara on Friday. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

Alipurduar, Oct. 30: Foresters of Jaldapara are worried about the chances of survival of a female elephant calf that was rescued yesterday.

“The calf is 7 to 10 days old and immature. It is very weak and its chances of survival is just 30 per cent. But we are trying our best to save the baby,” said Proloy Mandal, the veterinary officer of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

The baby elephant was deserted by its herd near the Sibchu busti in Nagrakata. After its rescue in the morning, the baby jumbo was brought to Malangi under the Jaldapara (east) range in the hope that four calves rescued earlier have survived after they were brought to the beat.

At Malangi, the calf had to be carried down from the truck by the foresters. Mandal has instructed the staff to feed it milk powder every three hours. The vet has also prescribed ORS, 250gm of glucose and multi-vitamin thrice a day. A close watch was kept throughout the night.

According to Mandal, the calf is either the first or the last issue of its mother. Its weight and height is less than normal and its body is dry and thin which indicates that it is suffering from malnutrition. The umbilical cord of the calf is yet to dry.

This morning, the foresters took the calf to Sundarmoni but the mother elephant is no more lactating. “We are worried because at present there are no elephants in Jaldapara who can be foster mother to the calf. We are keeping watch on the calf and have plans to feed the it goat milk after 3-4 days,” Mandal said.

On July 18, 2007, 10-day-old Balasundar was rescued from the bank of the Balason in the wildlife I division and was brought to the Malangi beat. The vet and Buddhadeb Mandal, the range officer of Jaldapara (east), along with some other foresters, watched it round-the-clock to keep it alive. Now the elephant is big enough to obey the commands of the mahout.

Rohini, a one-year-old, was brought to the beat in March 2007 and is alive. Earlier this year, another one-month-old calf was rescued from the bed of the Titi and brought to the beat. It is doing well now.

Last month, two-month-old Teesta was rescued from Belakoba. It too is in Malangi.

After Aronyo died of alleged lack of care at Dhupjhora under the wildlife II division in Gorumara, forest minister Ananta Roy had appreciated the high success rate of rearing elephant calves at Malangi. “From now on, an elephant calf rescued in any division will be brought to the Malangi beat (Jaldapara),” he had said.