Hope remains! Elephant calf from Kodanad to be flown to Vantara

KOCHI: An injured elephant calf, which sustained injuries after a fall, will be airlifted to 'Vantara' in Gujarat for medical treatment. The calf—for which a health monitoring committee had previously recommended euthanasia—is being transported to Vantara, located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Vantara is the world’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, established by Anant Ambani under the aegis of the Reliance Foundation. The calf, now about a year and a half old, had arrived at Kodanad on the very day it was born.

The elephant calf, which has a congenital skeletal deformity, sustained injuries after falling while playing the other day. Weighing approximately 130 kilograms, the calf is currently in a condition to not even able to move the body slightly. It was moved from Kodanad into an animal ambulance with the help of a crane. The calf is being transported to Vantara via a chartered flight from Nedumbassery. Expert veterinarians from Kerala, along with the Forest Department staff who have been caring for the calf, will accompany it on the flight. Doctors at Vantara have assured that the calf will be brought back to Kerala once recovered. Currently, the medical team at Vantara has prescribed a 60-day treatment regimen.