Fishermen and officials rescue elephant calf from Teesta River

Fishermen and wildlife officials in West Bengal, India, successfully rescued a newborn elephant calf that was swept away by the strong currents of the Teesta River near the Gajoldoba barrage.

The rescue began when Tapan Das, a local sluice gate operator, spotted the calf in the churning water and raised the gates to prevent the animal from being driven into the concrete structure. Following an emergency call, a group of local fishermen, including Bablu Das, used small dinghies to pursue the calf for approximately two to three miles downstream.

After retrieving the calf from the river, the fishermen handed the animal over to the Indian Forest Service. To ensure the calf's safety and minimize human contact, forest officials from the Baikunthapur Forest Division took charge of the operation. They located the elephant herd several miles upstream and successfully reunited the calf with its mother, who was seen nursing the animal after the reunion.