Stories
Teesta River Elephant: 5 Fishermen Become Overnight Heroes Saving Floating Calf!
- •Five fishermen became overnight heroes by rescuing an elephant calf floating in the Teesta River.
- •Ajay Das, Mithu Das, Gopal, Biswanath, and Bablu Das from Milan Palli No. 12 in Gajoldoba saved the calf.
- •They risked their lives to rescue the approximately 100 kg elephant calf from the strong currents and handed it to the forest department.
- •Siliguri Metropolitan Police honored them for their courage and humanitarian initiative, providing financial assistance.
- •The fishermen expressed satisfaction in returning the approximately ten-day-old calf to its mother.
Key Questions Answered
On Monday, September 21, 2026, five fishermen from Milan Palli No. 12 spotted a newborn elephant calf struggling in the strong currents of the Teesta River. They risked their lives by jumping into the swollen river from their boat, pulled the roughly 100 kg calf aboard, brought it to the riverbank, and handed it over to the forest department for medical care.
The brave fishermen were honored by members of a voluntary organization as well as the Siliguri Metropolitan Police. In recognition of their courage and humanitarian initiative, the police provided them with formal recognition and financial assistance.
Forest workers revealed that the rescued elephant calf was only about ten days old (with some reports noting it was 3–4 days old). It had come to the Teesta bank with its mother and accidentally got separated from her in the strong current.
