Athagarh: A seven-month-old baby elephant abandoned by its herd was rescued from a canal by villagers of Nuagaon near Khuntuni today.
A few villagers, who spotted the animal this morning, rescued it and carried the calf to the village on their shoulders. On being informed, forest officials rushed to the village and sent the baby pachyderm for medical examination.
In a separate incident, a herd of 15 elephants from a nearby forest strayed into the Panchapariamunda village in Sundergarh causing heavy damage to crops. The jumbos also pulled down three houses in the village, informed sources.
Forest officials and villagers have kept a vigil on the herd in order to avoid any further damage, sources added.