SILIGURI, : The elephant calf ‘Hope’, fighting for its life after suffering a front right leg fracture and battling Trypanosoma, has been shifted to a forest village in Dahara under Bagdogra forest range for intensive treatment.
A team of veterinarians from West Bengal and Thailand has been providing round-the-clock medical care to save the seven-year-old female elephant calf. The medical team led by Dr. Sweta Mandal from Bengal and Dr. Tan from Save Elephant Foundation, Thailand along with members of NGOs, forest officers and staff, has been working tirelessly for the past 21 days to aid the calf’s recovery.
On Thursday evening, the calf was moved to Dahara forest village in Bengdubi, where it has been provided support with a wooden structure and chains. Forest staffs are ensuring a nutritious diet, including paddy, banana leaves, green grasses, pumpkin, pineapple and pulses.
Devesh Pandey, DFO of Kurseong division, stated, “There is hope to save ‘Hope’ as we are providing urgent medical care that the calf desperately needs, giving her a precious second chance at life.”
He also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the team from Thailand, members of NGOs and Dr. Sweta, who have been working in close coordination with the forest department.
Rikjyoti Singha, founder of Jumboo Troops, has been supporting the Forest department since the calf’s rescue. He has remained with the medical team 24/7, setting up a treatment camp and ensuring continuous care for the calf.