Chhattisgarh: Elephant herd blocks highway to protect calf that fell in Korba ditch

Korba (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 6 : Traffic on Chhattisgarh's highway Korba was brought to a standstill after a herd of elephants in the Chodhwa village of the Kendai forest range displayed remarkable group defence for an elephant calf that fell into a deep ditch.
According to Katghora Divisional Forest Officer, Nishant Kumar, "The cause of the unusual 'chakka jam' was an elephant calf that had fallen into a deep ditch next to the highway, prompting the herd of elephants to intervene."
A herd of elephants had on Thursday evening ventured into the Katghora forest range and was crossing National Highway-130 when the baby elephant fell into a ditch in the Madai region the official said.
The herd immediately surrounded the calf forming a protective circle.
This incident disrupted traffic at both ends of the route, with motorists stopping to observe the fascinating scene, said the DFO.
Eventually, some motorists and villagers informed the forest department and police. Around 6 pm, rescue teams arrived at the scene and pulled the calf out of the ditch with the help of an excavator.
This occurrence is not an isolated incident in Korba. The district has witnessed several human fatalities due to elephant attacks. Hence, there is a constant atmosphere of fear in this area regarding the movement of elephants.
The growing incidents of human-elephant conflict in the region have exposed the pressing need for effective measures to ensure the mutual safety of humans and these magnificent animals.
The Katghora DFO further said that rangers and employees of the forest department have been deployed and the elephants are being monitored in the area.