Siliguri: An elephant calf was seriously injured after being hit by a speeding car on Asian Highway 2 in Naxalbari in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district on November 7 night. The incident occurred while a herd of 60 elephants was crossing the highway.

The calf was accompanied by its mother. Its left foreleg was reportedly fractured and several cut marks found on its body apparently due to the collision with the car. “Around 9.45 pm, an elephant started chasing cars and vandalising small shops on the highway while a speeding car hit its calf,” said locals.

After that, a search operation was launched by forest officials and local people. Forest officials found the injured calf slumped beside the road and groaning in pain adjacent to Kiran Chandra Tea Garden. Forest officials of Bagdogra range, Tukriajhar range along with Sukna squad tranquilised and treated the elephant calf. Later in the morning, the calf walked back towards the herd in the Bagdogra forests.

Meanwhile, the car was damaged by the mother elephant. “An investigation has been started, owner of the car and two accused were booked under Wildlife Protection Act and relevant sections of the IPC,” said Sheikh Fareed, divisional forest officer of Kurseong forest division.

This was not a one-off case. Man-elephant conflicts are common in the Bagdogra area of Darjeeling district. However, what stood out was that the elephant was hit by a speeding car -- normally trains are behind casualties. As harvesting season has started, a large number of elephants have entered Kurseong division from the Mahananda forest.