Mysore, Dec 05: A two-month-old elephant calf that was abandoned by its mother has found a new home and a “surrogate” mother. The male baby elephant that was abandoned in Basavanabetta reserve in Satnur forests in Kanakapura taluk was brought to Mysore zoo and is now surviving on artificial diet given by the zoo authorities. Zoo keeper Mahadev, who successfully hand-reared the elephant calf Gajendra five months ago, has once again been assigned the task of hand-rearing the new calf Arjuna as a “surrogate” mother.
Arjuna was brought to the zoo on Tuesday and has been kept in a separate enclosure. A special straw bed has been prepared for Arjuna by the zoo-keepers to ensure that the tender skin of the calf does not get hurt. Zoo sources said the STF personnel who are after the elusive Veerappan, rescued this abandoned elephant during routine combing operations in Malai Mahadeshwara Betta, which borders the Satnur range and handed over the calf to the Forest Department. After necessary treatment, the calf, which is weak, was brought to the zoo.