Swept away by raging Teesta in Bengal, elephant calf saved by four fishermen
Five fishermen in West Bengal successfully rescued a newborn elephant calf that had been swept away by the flooded Teesta River. The calf was later reunited with its mother through the coordinated efforts of locals and forest officials.
Why it matters
The story highlights the importance of community intervention in wildlife conservation and the risks posed by extreme weather to local ecosystems.
Jalpaiguri: Five Jalpaiguri fishermen on a small row boat pulled off a miraculous rescue on Teesta as they pulled up a newborn elephant calf on Monday. The calf had been swept away nearly 4 km downstream while its herd was crossing the river near Apalchand forest’s Kathambari range.Spotting the calf struggling to stay afloat, Bablu Das, Mithun Das, Kader Das, Biswanath and Gopal braved the swollen river’s strong currents and rowed their boat to the elephant. The calf was gasping for breath, with its little trunk raised above the water as the waves continued to push it further downstream. Three of the fishermen jumped off and the calf was hauled on to the boat. As the boat returned, the three swam alongside the boat, pushing it against the current.The calf was handed over to forest personnel upon reaching the bank.
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