Kochayyappan, Konni Elephant Camp's beloved calf, no more

In a tragic incident, Kochayyappan, the five-year-old elephant calf and star attraction at the Konni Elephant Camp, was found dead early Wednesday morning following a suspected herpes virus attack.

- JAISON WILSON @P'Thitta

IN A tragic incident, Kochayyappan, the five-year-old elephant calf and star attraction at the Konni Elephant Camp, was found dead early Wednesday morning following a suspected herpes virus attack.

The carcass was found around 6am by staff who arrived to clean the shelter. The calf, who was without any signs of illness on the previous day, was lying motionless in his enclosure. The postmortem was conducted later in the day, and the body was cremated in the Kummannoor forest range.

Staff and officials, including Konni DFO Ayush Kumar Kori, said the calf seemed normal in recent days. On Tuesday, too, the DFO had interacted with the baby elephant and played with him.