Forest officials in Palakkad rescued an elephant calf that was trapped in a rocky crevice in the Attappadi area on Tuesday.

The calf was first noticed by tribal residents around 7:30 am. It had become stuck between rocks in a narrow gap. Residents observed the situation for several hours, expecting the mother elephant to return.

Rescue operation carried out after herd did not return

However, the herd did not reappear during the day. Therefore, forest officials stepped in and began a rescue operation.

Officials carefully removed the calf from the crevice. According to initial estimates, the animal is around 2.5 years old. It likely slipped into the gap after getting separated from its herd while moving through the forest.

Efforts underway to reunite calf with herd

After the rescue, the calf has been kept under close watch within the forest area. Officials are allowing time for a possible natural reunion with the herd.

In addition, teams are monitoring nearby forest zones to track any movement of elephants that could indicate the herd’s return.

Rehabilitation plan if reunion fails

If the herd does not return, the calf may be shifted to a forest rehabilitation centre. This step will ensure continued care and protection for the animal.

For now, officials remain focused on reuniting the calf with its group in its natural habitat.