Coimbatore: In a tragic incident on Saturday, a gaur calf that came to drink water in a cement tank inside the forest in Anaikatti slipped and fell inside and died.
Coimbatore: In a tragic incident on Saturday, a gaur calf that came to drink water in a cement tank inside the forest in Anaikatti slipped and fell inside and died.
According to sources, a herd of gaur were drinking water from a tank located near Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History near Moonkilpallam on Anikati road.
Unfortunately, a calf from the herd slipped and fell inside the tank and got trapped in the sludge inside the tank.
Despite its best efforts, the calf could not climb up and was in a hopeless condition.
The cattle rearers spotted the calf inside the tank and alerted the forest officials.
Foresters who arrived at the spot, tried their best to rescue the animal. Since the floor of the tank was very slippery, the animal could not be lifted out. The water level was also scanty making the job very difficult.
After a tough fight, the team finally deployed ropes and managed to lift the calf. However, having struggled in the scorching sun all day long, the ungulate succumbed after being rescued.
Alleging that lack of proper structure of water tanks is proving a major threat for wild animals, the local people cited repeated deaths of wild animals.
“Recently, a deer fell inside a tank in a nearby vicinity and died. We had requested the officials to change the design of the tanks for the safety of the wild animals but nothing worked out,” said a local resident.