India, Nov. 6 -- Kerala's Forest Department has ordered the airlift of an 18-month-old elephant calf, Maya, from Abhayaranyam to Vantara in Jamnagar for specialised medical care after she suffered multiple fractures and severe bone weakness.

Kerala Chief Wildlife Warden Dr P Pugazhendi, IFS, ordered her transfer on November 5, following consultations with veterinary experts who recommended exploring further treatment options before considering euthanasia.

Maya was rescued on April 19, 2025, after being found abandoned near Kaprikkad in the Malayattoor Division. Her herd had crossed a river without her, leaving the newborn calf weak and severely dehydrated. As she had no suckling reflex, forest staff had to hand-rear her under round-the-...