A calf elephant and its mother got a fresh lease of life on Monday with the Forest Department extending a helping hand.
The District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris North, K. Soundarapandian, told The Hindu that early on Monday it had been brought to the notice of the department by some tribals that an elephant aged about 12 to 15 years and its calf aged about three years were struggling to get out of a pond. The pond was located on a piece of patta land near Karikiyur tribal hamlet along the Nilgiris Northern Slopes.
It was presumed that since the area was covered with lantana, the calf had slipped into the pond and its mother had followed.
Since the sides were slippery, they could not get out. Their distress call had drawn the attention of the tribals.
