Separated from herd, elephant calf finds new hope at CWRC
CWRC, 5th May 2025: A male elephant calf, estimated to be around 18-24 months old, was admitted to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga after it was found alone and distressed near an agricultural land in Assam’s Orang Tiger Reserve.
First spotted by local residents on April 29, 2025, in the maize fields of Aparia Chapori village in Darrang district, the calf later moved away and was sighted again in a dry riverbed on April 30. Responding swiftly, a team of forest officials from Orang Tiger Reserve, along with experienced mahouts, secured the calf and began assessing options for a possible reunion with a wild elephant herd.
CWRC, run jointly by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the Assam Forest Department, and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), was immediately notified, and a team led by WTI veterinarian Dr. Mehedi Hassan, along with an experienced animal keeper, reached the site early the next morning to assist.
Following protocol, the forest team transported the calf by boat to Orang National Park, where a herd of 17 wild elephants with calves has been observed. However, repeated attempts to reunite the calf with the wild herd on April 30 were unsuccessful, as the adult elephants and their calves avoided interaction and fled the area. Recognising the need for specialised care, the decision was made to transfer the calf to CWRC.
The calf is settling into its new surroundings, under the care of the WTI-IFAW team | Photo by Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, WTI
According to Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, CWRC Centre Manager and the lead veterinarian, WTI, the calf has already begun feeding from a milk bottle and has been placed in the CWRC elephant nursery, where it is now housed alongside three other calves of similar age.
A preliminary health examination revealed a haemorrhage above the cornea of the right eye and an ulcerative wound over the left eye, which are currently being treated by the veterinary team. The calf is now one of 11 orphaned elephant calves under care at CWRC, where it will undergo intensive rehabilitation with the goal of eventual release into the wild.
Dr. Mehedi Hassan noted that the calf’s journey from isolation and distress to safety and care reflects the collective dedication of local communities, forest officials, and wildlife experts. While the priority is always to reunite calves with their wild herds, in this case, rehabilitation provides a vital second chance at life.
