Despite efforts for three days, the forest department still could not recover the floating corpse of an elephant calf from the Kaptai Lake.
Officials said the calf died on Monday night in the Liton Hill area, under the Kachalangmukh forest duty and inspection outpost of the Chittagong Hill Tracts North Forest Division. Since then, the mother elephant has remained beside the corpse, preventing rescuers from approaching.
Md Matiur Rahman, station officer of Kachalangmukh Forest Outpost, said the calf's body had shifted from its original position, likely moved by the mother. "The mother elephant has also moved from her earlier position. Last night, a herd of elephants called out, and today they are still standing near the hill. When approached, the mother elephant charges, making it impossible to recover the body. The corpse has already started to emit a stench," he said.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Chittagong Hill Tracts North Forest Division, Md Rafiquzaman Shah, confirmed that recovery attempts had again failed today, as they cannot get close.