3-Day-Old Elephant Calf Swept Away in Teesta’s Strong Current Rescued by Fishermen, Reunited With Mother
Risking their own lives, several kind-hearted fishermen rescued a tiny, just three to four-day-old elephant calf that was facing certain death in the turbulent waters of the Teesta.
The calf had got separated from its mother in the strong current while trying to cross the river. While being swept towards death after crossing the dam of the river’s hydel project, the scene caught the eye of local people. At that very moment, risking their own lives, a group of local fishermen set out in a boat into the river. After chasing it for about four kilometers in the river’s current, they were finally able to rescue the calf safely.
According to details of the incident, on Monday morning at around 8 a.m., locals saw the calf being swept away in the Teesta river in the Gajaldoba area. As soon as they received the news, fishermen named Ajay Das, Bablu Das, Gopal Das, Mithu Das and Biswanath Das immediately launched their boat without delay.
After a long, tireless and perilous effort, near Punjabban in Kathambari, the team was able to pull the elephant calf out of the current and lift it onto the boat. Soon after, after getting the information, forest department personnel arrived at the spot and took the calf under their care.
After the rescue, the forest staff took the calf to a sandbar in the Teesta adjacent to the embankment of the tourist spot ‘Bhorer Alo’. A herd of wild elephants had already taken shelter there.
Hearing its baby’s cry on the sandbar, the calf’s mother rushed out from the herd. After a long separation and anxiety, the emotional reunion of the mother and child on the bank of the Teesta brought tears to the eyes of every onlooker. After some time, holding the tiny calf close to her chest, the mother went back into the deep forest along with the rest of the herd.
According to forest department officials, had it not been for the unparalleled courage, presence of mind and immediate action of the local fishermen, the tragic drowning of this tiny elephant calf in the strong current would have been certain. Everyone is now highly praising the generosity and humanity of these fishermen.