Five fishermen have become unlikely heroes after rescuing a newborn elephant calf from a river in India and helping reunite it with its mother.
The calf, believed to be just three or four days old, became separated from its herd while crossing the Teesta River in West Bengal.
Swept away by the strong current, the tiny elephant was almost completely submerged, with only its trunk visible above the water.
Fishermen spot elephant calf struggling in river
Members of the North Bengal Fishermen’s Forum, Mithu Das, Rajesh Das, Biswanath Das, Gopal Das and Bablu Das, spotted the calf’s trunk poking out of the water.
The men initially alerted officials from the Indian Forest Service (IFS) before setting out from Kranti-Punjab Dam to rescue the struggling animal.
“The current was very strong and the calf was helpless,” said onlooker Rajkumar Roy. “The fishermen took two dinghies and followed it for nearly 4km.”
Dramatic rescue captured on camera
Footage of the rescue shows the fishermen carefully pulling the exhausted elephant calf from the water into their small wooden boat.
The men laid the calf on its side before bringing it safely to shore.
Despite its ordeal, forest officials later confirmed that the newborn elephant was healthy.
Baby elephant reunited with its mother
Following the rescue, forest officials located the calf’s mother and reunited the pair within two hours.
The reunion was particularly important because prolonged separation can increase the risk of a mother elephant rejecting her calf.
Fortunately, that did not happen.
The mother rushed towards her baby and immediately began nursing it.
Forest officials continued monitoring the pair from a distance and reported that both mother and calf were doing well.
River crossings pose risks for young elephants
The Baikanthapur forest division is home to a large population of Asian elephants.
River crossings can be particularly dangerous during the monsoon season, when strong currents create additional risks for young calves.
For this newborn elephant, the quick actions of five fishermen turned a potentially tragic separation into a successful rescue and reunion.
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