Photo: OTV
Radhika (left) and Jaggu (right) in Chandaka
The Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Godibari, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, welcomed two new guests this week.
A four-month-old calf named Radhika and a three-month-old named Jaggu were brought in separate batches to the Chandaka Reserve Forest and inducted into its ‘Baal Hasti Pathasala’ or elephant nursery and playschool.
Incidentally, Radhika was found separated from her mother inside Narla forest on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna. Similarly, Jaggu was found roaming without a herd in dense forests adjoining Keonjhar.
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Sources mentioned that the duo was brought to Chandaka under the guidance of wildlife supervising teams and were rehabilitated to there to take part in its training program designed for young elephants who become isolated from their mothers or herds.
Ground reports also mentioned the two calves being healthy upon their arrival in Chandaka.
The elephant nursery in Dampara earlier used to house elephants of all ages but now runs a separate ‘play-school’ division exclusively for elephant calves. Additionally, it features a training curriculum that will help impart essential life skills to the tuskers, allowing them to live on their own as adults as well as assist the forest department when required.
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Notably, the arrival of Radhika and Jaggu marked a new milestone for the wildlife sanctuary as the total number of baby and juvenile elephants housed in it has now risen to 8.
Accordingly, the total headcount of all tuskers in Chandaka Forest has now risen to 47 from an earlier 45 reported in July of this year.
