A group of local fishermen in West Bengal turned an ordinary morning on the water into a wildlife rescue, pulling an exhausted elephant calf from the Teesta River and helping guide it back into its mother’s care before the pair returned safely to the forest.
Spotted Drifting Near The Barrage
The rescue took place around 8:30 a.m. on September 21, near Gajoldoba in the Baikunthapur Forest Division of Jalpaiguri district. Members of the North Bengal Fishermen’s Forum spotted the calf drifting in the river close to the Teesta Barrage and traveled nearly 4 kilometers by boat from Kranti-Punjab Dam to reach the stranded animal.
Five fishermen — Mithu Das, Rajesh Das, Biswanath Das, Gopal Das, and Bablu Das — carried out the rescue together, carefully lifting the young elephant onto their boat before bringing it safely to the riverbank.
Handed Over To Forest Officials
Once ashore, the calf was handed over to officials from the Kathambari Range of the West Bengal Forest Department. Despite being visibly exhausted from its ordeal in the water, the calf appeared to be in otherwise good health.
Shortly after the handover, the calf’s mother reportedly arrived at the riverbank searching for her missing calf. The two elephants were reunited on the spot, bringing what officials described as an emotional close to the rescue effort. The pair later made their way back into the forest together, with the Forest Department continuing to monitor them afterward.
A Known Elephant Corridor
The area around Gajoldoba and the Teesta River is well known for regular elephant movement, with herds frequently crossing the river as they travel between forest patches in the region. The river’s fluctuating water levels have previously created danger for crossing elephants; officials and foresters in the district have responded to similar stranding incidents involving both calves and adult elephants in the same general stretch of river in past years.
Given this history, officials and local residents in the area continue to stay alert to wildlife activity around the river, particularly during periods when water levels can rise quickly.
A Community Stepping In For Wildlife
The rescue highlighted the role everyday residents can play in protecting wildlife, with the fishermen’s quick response and cooperation with forest officials ensuring the calf’s safe return to its natural habitat and its mother.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did this elephant calf rescue take place? Near Gajoldoba in the Baikunthapur Forest Division of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, close to the Teesta Barrage.
Who carried out the rescue? Five members of the North Bengal Fishermen’s Forum — Mithu Das, Rajesh Das, Biswanath Das, Gopal Das, and Bablu Das — spotted the calf and brought it to safety by boat.
Was the elephant calf injured? The calf appeared exhausted from its time in the river but was reported to be in otherwise good health when handed over to forest officials.
Was the calf successfully reunited with its mother? Yes. The mother elephant arrived at the riverbank shortly after the rescue searching for her calf, and the two were reunited before returning to the forest together.
Why do elephants frequently end up stranded in the Teesta River? The area is a known elephant movement corridor, and the river’s water levels can rise unpredictably, occasionally stranding elephants, including calves, as herds attempt to cross between forest areas.
Sources: Regional reporting on the incident, with additional context on Teesta River elephant activity, cited above.
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