Date:13/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/13/stories/2006121308100400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Others

Aborted delivery claims elephant, calf

Staff Reporter

COMPLETING LEGAL FORMALITIES: Veterinary doctors conducting post-mortem on the female elephant at Andipatti forest on Tuesday. — PHOTO : G. KARTHIKEYAN

PALANI: A female elephant aged around 18 years died following an aborted delivery of a female calf in the Andipatti forest range on lower Palani hills, 25 km away from here on Tuesday.

The calf, whose head was caught in the vaginal passage, too died.

Acting on information passed by the tribal people of Kavalipatti village who had been to the forests for collecting medicinal plants, District Forest Officer Nihar Ranjan along with forest rangers and veterinary doctors trekked four km and examined the wild animal and the calf. Later, they burnt the decomposed carcasses in the forest after a post-mortem.

Head got stuck

Veterinary doctor Kesavan said that instead of the head, the hind legs of calf came out first. Half of the body of calf came out but the head got stuck inside.

Cry of pain

Residents of nearby villages stated that they heard the elephants crying in pain.

They suspect the animal died two days ago.

More than 60 elephants had been roaming the interior forests.