One of the elephants from a herd that recently walked from Chhattisgarh to settle in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra has apparently delivered a calf. If confirmed by authorities, it would be the first such birth in the wild in the state in many decades. Wildlife lovers were already excited after it was confirmed that the herd comprising 16-20 pachyderms had made Maharashtra its home. The latest development is another treat, they said.

A source from the forest department told mid-day, “The information coming from the ground says an elephant has given birth to a calf. When the herd entered Maharashtra from Chhattisgarh there were three calves. The addition of one more calf to the herd is very good news.”