Sat Mar 15 16:12:56 UTC 2025: ## Baby Elephant Rescued After Three-Hour Ordeal in Kerala
**PERUMBAVOOR, Kerala –** A tense three-hour rescue operation unfolded in the Mekkapala forest near Perumbavoor, Kerala on Saturday, March 15th, after a baby elephant fell into a pit. The incident, which saw the mother elephant turn violent, highlights growing concerns about human-wildlife conflict as summer approaches and forest water sources dry up.
The baby elephant, part of a herd, became trapped in a pit on private land bordering the forest around 4 a.m. While forest officials arrived quickly, the presence of the protective herd, including one aggressive adult, initially hampered rescue efforts. After the herd temporarily moved away, officials, assisted by local residents, carefully widened the pit, allowing the calf to climb to safety.
During the rescue, the mother elephant damaged a motorcycle and attacked a Forest Department vehicle before being driven back into the forest by the noise of the crowd. The incident occurred on land the Forest Department is in the process of acquiring due to its proximity to the forest.
With the worsening summer and dwindling water sources within the forest, residents living near the forest edge are increasingly anxious about potential future encounters with wild animals.
First Piper 