SALEM: The forest department personnel are facing a piquant situation over their claim that they have reunited an estranged elephant calf with its mother as wildlife activists have established that the baby pachyderm is now in the custody of Karnataka forest department personnel.
Wild Life Nature Conservation Trust members, who spotted the calf at the Palar forest check post on Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border manned by Karnataka Forest Personnel on Wednesday, claimed that the baby was being fed as per the instructions of the Karnataka forest veterinarians and it has become an attraction among visitors of MM Hills. The calf appeared to be restless.
“Our suspicion has come true. We were doubtful about reported claim made by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department over the calf-mother jumbo reunion. On Tuesday we got a tip off that the calf was spotted near Palar,” said N Sadique Ali, Founder Trustee, WNCT.
Following the tip off, WNCT Trustee S Sharavanan and his team in Salem launched a search on Wednesday morning near Palar and finally found the calf in the custody of the Karnataka forest personnel at the Palar forest check post.
Sharavanan said the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s shoddy work has come to light. They have left the calf into the forest hoping that it would join its mother. But, their attempt failed. He said the WNCT Trust would take up the issue with higher authorities in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.