Elephant calf found dead in abandoned well in Odisha’s Nayagarh

A four-year-old elephant calf died after falling into an abandoned well inside a cashew forest near Pateleswar village under the Ranpur forest range in Nayagarh district on Sunday. Forest officials said the calf slipped into the unused well and was unable to climb out, leading to its death before help could reach.

According to sources, Ranpur Ranger and field staff arrived at the spot and launched recovery procedures after being informed by local residents who discovered the trapped calf early in the morning.

Preliminary assessment suggests that the open well had been left unfenced and was overgrown with vegetation, making it difficult for the animal to detect.

As of this morning, forest personnel were preparing to conduct a post-mortem as part of standard procedure. Authorities stated they will inspect nearby wells and pits and may seek the support of local panchayats to ensure such structures are either barricaded or covered to prevent future accidents.

Similar Incidents Reported in Bolangir Earlier This Month

The tragedy comes weeks after successful rescues of elephant calves that had fallen into open wells in Bolangir district.

In one incident near Latasahada village under Muribahal Range, a calf was rescued following a prolonged multi-agency operation involving forest officials, police, fire services, and the Bolangir DFO. A JCB was used to widen the well structure, allowing the animal to walk out safely.

Another calf rescued in Bijamal under the same range had turned aggressive during the operation, injuring a forest guard who was later hospitalised. Officials noted that nearly 60 elephants are currently moving in the Muribahal landscape, a region that has seen repeated crop damage and frequent human-elephant encounters.

ALSO READ: Sick elephant found near Bhubaneswar outskirts; Forest Dept begins treatment

Unprotected Wells a Growing Threat to Wildlife

Meanwhile, the Nayagrh incident has once again highlighted the threat posed by abandoned and unmarked wells inside forested and agricultural patches where elephant herds frequently move.

Officials confirmed that the cashew plantation lies along a corridor used by elephants that migrate across the region in search of food and water.

Local residents stated that the area has witnessed increasing elephant movement in recent years, particularly during harvest and fruiting seasons. The forest department is now surveying the surrounding landscape to identify such open hazards.