MADIKERI:Shambhulinga Estate in Pollibetta echoed with the cries of a mother elephant and its calf on Monday. A herd of elephants were reported to have entered the coffee estate on Monday morning when a calf in the herd got stuck in a puddle in the vicinity of the estate. While the incident took place in the early hours, it came into light when villagers followed the cries of the calf and mother elephant and reached the spot. The calf, along with the mother elephant, was surrounded by seven other matriarchs.
The forest officials were immediately informed. They arrived at the spot and burst a set of crackers to chase the herd. The officials, along with the villagers and estate labourers carried out the rescue mission. The rescue team worked fearlessly to save the calf in spite of attacks from the other elephants that were on constant march in the estate. After six hours, the calf was rescued. The villagers witnessed a heart-warming scene when the rescued calf ran towards its mother, who was fed immediately.The villagers are, however, threatened by the troop of elephants herded in the estate and are demanding the forest officials to chase them back to the forest.