Coimbatore: A ten-month-old male elephant calf, found abandoned near the Koothamandi forests by the Bhavanisagar reservoir on May 26, has been relocated to the Kozhikamuthi elephant camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) after multiple failed attempts to reunite it with its herd.

For over 15 days, forest department teams combed the Koothamandi area and surrounding reserves—including Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), Mudumalai, and the Nilgiri slopes—hoping to locate the calf’s mother or its herd. However, continuous rain hampered the search, and no matching herd was found.

“With no success despite our best efforts, we sought and received approval from the chief wildlife warden to transfer the calf to Kozhikamuthi,” said a senior forest official.

On Friday morning, the calf was carefully transported by a team led by Sirumugai range officer K Manoj. The operation involved ferrying the calf across the Bhavanisagar dam’s waters using a fiber boat with a temporary shelter. It was then taken by road to the ATR’s elephant camp near Top Slip.

Dr. A Sukumar, forest veterinary officer, supervised the move and continues to monitor the calf’s health. The calf has been placed in a bamboo kraal (enclosure), and a dedicated mahout and cavadi (assistant) have been assigned for its care.

This marks a compassionate step by the department to ensure the orphaned calf’s safety and well-being in a protected environment.