Chilla range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve has got a two- and-half-year-old baby elephant, lovingly called ‘Johny’ by the foresters who are looking after it. Separated from the herd, when it was wandering about pathetically, robbed of the care of its mother in the Motichoor forest range of Rajaji National Park, it was brought to the Chilla range by the foresters. Though it looks healthy from the outside the foresters are taking no chance, aware as they are of the fact that to rear a baby elephant away from the care of its mother is a daunting challenge. “It is growing up under the care of the foresters and a team of vets along with six other baby elephants being kept here,” said the range officer Anil Kumar Painuly.
It is learnt from the foresters that the baby had wounds on it when it was brought to the range. “This is why we are taking extra care of Johny,” added the range officer, adding that it is being fed milk mixed with water.
However, a researcher on elephants Dr Ritesh Joshi says that a baby below two years separated from the herd is precariously vulnerable. “It cannot arrange for itself full nutrition required for its survival and growth. Besides, it is not in a position to acclimatize itself with the harsh weather conditions,” he said.
Speaking to The Pioneer, director of RTR Sanatan Sonkar said, “Johnny is being reared under the supervision of doctor Aditi Sharma. It is now growing like a normal baby. In the past, we brought two other babies- Radha and Rangeeli.
They are now fully grown elephants thanks to the care taken by the foresters and the vets. Johny appears to be slowly adapting itself to its environment. Of course, it is very tough to rear up babies separated from their mothers when they are a few days old. But Johny being two and half years old, we do not think it would be difficult to rear it into its full growth.”