October 27, 2025
RANGAMATI – The body of a wild elephant calf, which died six days ago in Kaptai Lake, was finally recovered and buried today after the mother elephant moved away from the site.
The corpse was recovered from and buried in the Liton Tila area of Barunachari village, under Barkal upazila in Rangamati.
Md Matiur Rahman, station officer of Kachalangmukh Forest Outpost, confirmed the recovery to The Daily Star today.
Md Rafiquzaman Shah, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Chittagong Hill Tracts North Forest Division, said samples were collected from the body before burial. “The samples will be sent to the CF Wildlife office for forensic examination. At present, the herd of elephants, including the mother, has moved away from the area,” he added.
The calf had died on October 20, when it reportedly slipped from a hill and drowned in Kaptai Lake. Forest officials said repeated attempts to recover the body earlier had failed because the mother elephant would not move away, charging at anyone who approached.