LAGATAR 24 NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 14: An adult female elephant has delivered a calf in reserve compartment 1 of the Phulhar jungle under the Garu East range of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR).
A female elephant gives birth standing. Again this mammal has the longest duration of gestation which is 22 months.
Confirming the birth of an elephant calf, Deputy Director South division of the PTR Kumar Ashish said, “It’s a happy time for a female elephant to deliver. There is water and food in plenty. The mother elephant and her calf will not have to move around more in search of water and feed.”
Ashish said the born calf is now three days old and doing fine. He said the mother elephant becomes nurturing and protective and fiercely gets into aggression if she senses any harm or trouble coming to her newborn calf.
The mother elephant is the friend, guide and teacher of her calf as the mother elephant teaches the calf all the nuances to get food, water, how to swim and how to protect etc.
Ashish said, “What I have been watching is that there are two to three elephant calves in a herd of elephants. I have so far watched three herds of elephants. I found elephant calves in these herds.”
Elephants deliver when they find good and peaceful habitat. The Phulhar delivery of elephant calf took place in a very safe and peaceful location far far away from human habitation.
Ranger Umesh Dubey said there was a great protective surrounding by 18 to 20 other elephants when the birth of the calf was in progress.
The protectee elephants ensure no disturbance in delivery and privacy remains intact.
Ranger Umesh Dubey said, “Our trackers stood some distance away even then the protectee elephants were not giving a chance of taking any photos of the birth of the calf.”
The ranger said this elephant calf was born just a day ahead of World Elephant Day which is 12th August every year.
