Elephant calf that strayed into Chekadi Government School crosses river and enters Karnataka

WAYANAD: The elephant calf that strayed into the Chekadi Government LP School in Wayanad on Monday has once again wandered off, this time crossing the river into Karnataka.

According to forest officials, the calf was first rescued from the Chekadi school premises and released near a wild elephant herd in the Vettathur forest. However, by Tuesday afternoon, it was spotted across the river in Kadagadda, Karnataka, close to human settlements. Locals managed to capture the calf and handed it over to the Karnataka Forest Department, which later shifted it to a safe shelter.

Authorities suspect the calf could not have crossed the river alone and may have originally arrived with the herd. There are also concerns that the herd might have rejected the young elephant. The calf was initially found trapped in a pit at Velukolli on Monday morning, after which it was rescued and released into the Aanappanthi forest area. Yet, only hours later, it strayed into the Chekadi school campus.

The unexpected visitor appeared in a nearby field around 12:30 p.m., while students were having lunch. Teachers quickly moved the children into classrooms and locked the doors as a precaution. Moments later, the calf entered the school compound, attempting to push open classroom doors with its trunk. It then playfully roamed the corridor, scattering shoes, splashing mud, and even trying to climb onto parked two-wheelers. Videos of the calf’s mischievous antics quickly spread on social media, turning the little elephant into a viral sensation.