Sick elephant delivers calf, forest officials caught unaware

Much to the shock and surprise of the forest department officials, a 30-year-old female elephant, who was being treated for stomach-related ailment, delivered a male calf at an elephant camp near here today.

The officials were caught unaware, when the animal developed labour pain and delivered a male calf at the camp in Chadivayal on the city outskirts, around 4.30 AM this morning, forest department sources said.

The elephant was found unconscious in a field at Periya Thadagam on the outskirts on October 19 and the forest officials, with the assistance of two veterinarians had provided treatment to it for stomach-related ailments.

Even as the pachyderm was shifted to the camp to continue the treatment, the veterinarians were unaware that the elephant was pregnant, they said.

Both mother and calf are in good health, they added.

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