Orphaned Asian Elephants Relocated

Our partnership with the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW) yielded another heartwarming development recently when four orphaned Asian elephant calves were successfully moved to Manas National Park.

Thanks to a grant from GreaterGood.org, with additional assistance from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Assam Forest Department, the four injured and emaciated elephant calves were rescued and taken to the IFAW Wildlife Rescue Center in Kaziranga for care and rehabilitation.

The orphaned calves were bottle-fed and hand raised at the center for the past five years; they are now weaned from milk and ready for the next phase of their rehabilitation process.

They’ve been fitted with radio collars to track their movement and activities. Initially they will spend time in a pre-release area and will go for regular ‘walks’ in the forest with their keepers. Gradually the calves will get opportunities to interact with wild elephants and begin their reintegration into native herds.

“The elephant rehabilitation program is one of our best animal welfare achievements in the region,” said Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, IFAW-WTI Regional Head – Northeast India. “We have rehabilitated 10 hand-reared elephants since 2006, and have got evidence of some of these animals integrated with wild herds in Manas National Park.”

To learn more about how you can help with future rescue and rehabilitation efforts for this magnificent creatures, check out the Animal Rescue Site.