Sultan Bathery: An elephant calf that had wandered to Chekadi School in Wayanad has died, authorities said. The elephant, which had been under the care of the Karnataka Forest Department, was confirmed to have been infected with a disease.

The calf first arrived at Chekadi School on August 18. It was captured and returned to the forest, but the herd had abandoned it. Several attempts to reunite the baby with its family failed. The calf later crossed a river and entered the Karnataka forest territory, where it was taken into care and moved to a forest camp.

Experts had warned that an abandoned calf could contract illnesses. The baby elephant had previously been found trapped in a ditch in Velukolli, Wayanad. Forest officials rescued it and attempted to return it to the wild, but the calf reached Chekadi LP School later that day.