Udhagamandalam: Elephant ride at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park near here will resume on January 12.

Anticipating heavy inflow of tourists to the sanctuary, particularly during the Pongal weekend, appropriate arrangements are being made by Wildlife officials.

Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra told The Hindu on Tuesday that the State Forest Department had introduced the elephant ride a few decades ago to take tourists on jungle trails, offering them a chance to encounter wild animals at close quarters. Even as it gained in popularity, the department was forced to discontinue it in April 2004.

Mr. Dogra said a major plan of action had been put in place to ensure that the ride does not run into rough weather again. Asked why it was stopped, he said the operation was hampered by malpractices. The animals were overworked, affecting their health. Outsiders out to make a fast buck from domestic and foreign tourists had exploited the shortcomings in the system.

Six routes

Having learnt from the mistakes, a new system, that ensures transparency and does not provide room for malpractices, had been evolved. Guidelines had already been displayed at various places. Hereafter tourists would be taken only on six routes identified by the department. Each trip would last just 30 minutes. The ride would be organised between 7.00 and 8.30 a.m. and 4.00 and 5.30 p.m.

Advance booking would be accepted for 50 percent of the rides. The rest would be allotted on a first-come-first-served basis. Bulk booking several weeks or months in advance would be discouraged .The fee per head, exclusive of visiting charges, would be Rs. 100. Only four persons would be allowed on each ride.

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