Mother (right) crawled into ravine to comfort injured newborn calf (lower left).

Badly injured baby elephant after daring rescue from ravine.

Dear Alpe Adria Green,
You recently signed our petition urging the EU to help save elephants by stopping all ivory trade. Thank you! I’m hopeful that our collective voice will create a groundswell that can’t be ignored, and that, as a result, many elephant lives will be saved.
I wanted to let you know about another way that IFAW helps save elephants, about an urgent rescue that just took place, and a new way you can help.
IFAW has just rescued a newborn elephant calf who was injured and trapped when he fell into a rocky ravine in northeast India.
IFAW’s rescue team was headed up by Dr. Abhijit Bhawal. Dr. Bhawal led the rescue team through the narrow and dark cave and to the injured calf.
A sling was slipped under the calf, and then Forest Department staff and villagers pulled the calf through the narrow rocks as Dr. Bhawal and other rescuers pushed from behind.
They were eventually able to move the calf through the cave. He was then carried on a stretcher up a steep hill, and was transported to a field office where he was treated immediately.
The calf is now in critical condition and receiving around-the-clock care.
But sadly, the calf has lost his mother.
She somehow navigated the perilous rocks and caves and reached her baby, but was gravely injured in the process and became wedged between two giant rock walls. From a trunk-length away, she comforted her calf until she knew her baby was safe, and then she quietly passed away.
I wish we could have saved the mother also – IFAW rescuers and local villagers worked feverishly to free her, but she was too injured.
And I’m so sad for this calf, all alone in the world, and desperately clinging to life.
Since you have already shown a commitment to helping elephants in need, I’d like to ask you if you’ll help this poor elephant calf and other innocent animals by making a donation today.
Any amount you can spare will do so much to help animals. IFAW relies almost exclusively on the generous support of individual animal lovers like you who are dedicated to protecting, rescuing, and caring for animals – without your support we simply couldn’t do the lifesaving work we do.
Please give today to help us care for innocent, injured animals.
Your gift could be the difference between life and death for a suffering animal like this injured elephant calf.
Thank you,

Fred O’Regan
IFAW President & CEO

P.S. The newborn elephant calf was unable to stand up when we reached him. He has bruises and wounds to his back, head and legs. We are desperately trying to save him. Please help us rescue and care for innocent animals like this calf by giving today.