Tragic Loss in the Wild: Young Elephant Calf Drowns in Chhattisgarh

A young female elephant calf tragically drowned while bathing in a pond located in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, according to local officials reporting the incident on Wednesday.

The unfortunate event occurred on Tuesday in Auranara village, where a herd of 20-22 elephants ventured into a pond within the Chhal forest range. The calf, approximately a year old, slipped into deeper waters and subsequently drowned. Fellow elephants later retrieved the carcass from the water.

Upon notification, forest personnel promptly reached the site to carry out a post-mortem examination on Wednesday morning. The calf's body, confirmed by veterinarians to have drowned, was later cremated in the forest. Additionally, forest department alerts have been issued with around 50 elephants currently present in the Dharamjaigarh forest division.