Two elephant calves died after falling in a dug well and waterlogged field in two separate places in Sundargarh district on Thursday.
A seven-member elephant herd, including a four-day-old calf, now camping in Rio reserve forest under Kuanrmunda forest range, was on Thursday morning crossing a field near Rio village, when the calf (male elephant) fell in a dug well, which was full of water. He died there.
Kuanrmunda forest range officer and forest officials, including DFO Arun Kumar Mishra, who is now in-charge of Rourkela DFO, reached the spot. The carcass was brought out from the well. Thereafter, post mortem was done and body was buried.
In another incident on Wednesday late night, a 14-member elephant herd, including a four-month-old calf (male elephant), camping in Sonaparbat reserve forest, had come towards Sonaparbat village under Panposh forest range. Seeing the elephant herd, villagers and forest officials were trying to drive the herd towards the reserve forest.