Kushalnagar: A baby elephant fell into a narrow toilet pit this morning near Gonikoppal in Kodagu district. The one-and-a-half-year-old calf has been rescued now. 

The incident occurred at Bhadragola near Devarapura village and the desperate trumpeting of the baby elephant drew the attention of M.M. Subramani who owns the coffee estate where the open pit is located. The calf fell into the pit last night or early this morning and was unable to come up as the pit had cement rings in it. 

Forest officials were alerted and with the help of villagers, one ring was removed and wooden planks were placed so that the baby elephant could climb up. Ranger Rajappa led the operation along with localities. 

After about three hours, the exhausted elephant was rescued. The calf was moving inside the estate along with a herd that had a couple of pachyderms. 

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Uthappa said that the Department was initially mulling an option of tranquillising the elephant. However, the plan was ruled out as the elephant is young and may not sustain the effects of tranquilliser dart. Later it was decided to remove a pit ring and put up wooden planks.

However, the planks were of no use and in the end, the calf was pulled out by another domesticated elephant with the help of a rope.

After the rescue operation, the exhausted calf was fed with water and food. Uthappa said that the herd was in a nearby area of the forest and the calf would be taken there after three to four hours when the elephant recuperates. “We will not shift the calf to the elephant camp as its mother is nearby. We will closely observe it till it reaches the herd,” he said.