VELLORE: A herd of 11 elephants has camped in Kothur Reserve Forest (RF) in the Tirupattur forest range after one of the female elephants gave birth to a calf.
The herd, comprising seven adult, female elephants, two adult, male elephants and two calves, migrated into the forest along the TN-AP border from Karnataka in the first week of October.
“One of the female elephants gave birth to a calf two days ago. It is camping in Kothur RF now. We are expecting the herd to remain here for the next 10 to 14 days until the newborn is able to move,” said Forest Ranger of Tirupattur R Udhaya Kumar.
The villagers of Palayapettai, Pallathur, Kothur, Gandhi Nagar, Kalliyur and Pullur have been asked not to venture into the forest. “We have stepped up patrolling and have created awareness among the villagers not to enter the forest, he said.